Rules of the Road

Covington Loftus

Rules of the Road

To most people, driving is one of those daily activities that we incorporate into our routines without giving it much thought. It’s as simple as brushing your teeth, taking your pets on a walk, or cooking dinner. We think of a car as an item that gets us from point A to point B. When we drive, we often forget that we’re steering a one-and-a-half-ton block of metal and glass at speeds that could do some severe damage to both property and persons. It’s when we forget that fact that accidents occur, and some, unfortunately, prove fatal. But there are several steps to ensure safety for ourselves and everyone else on the road.

The first step is to educate yourself on driving and traffic laws. Sure, we all know that the big red octagon with “STOP” written across it means to stop and that the green light means go, but do we know who has the right of way at a four-way stop or how far from our turn we need to put our turn signal on? Knowing the answer to these questions can be the difference between a peaceful Sunday drive and an unexpected fender-bender. We all must know these rules when we apply for a driver’s license or permit. Still, it’s even more vital that we continue to remember them as we continue to drive throughout our lives.

The second step you can take is to become acquainted with your vehicle. A lot of people drive a lot of different cars, and many of them control differently. Some cars require a little bit more pressure on the brake pedal to properly slow down and stop, others a little less. Some cars have bigger blind spots that need to be checked before merging. It’s essential to know how the car you drive behaves in order that you can drive it properly and avoid an accident. Becoming acquainted with your vehicle also means doing proper maintenance on it and being punctual on any needed repairs. While only about 2% of automotive accidents are caused by vehicle defects, it’s a number that can be reduced by doing the simple maintenance like changing your oil twice a year, keeping your tires at the appropriate pressure, and making sure your brake pads are still intact. (NHTSA)

The third step is to be aware of your environment while driving. People drive all year round in every part of the country, and conditions can vary from place to place and time to time. The speed limits for roads on flatlands are very different from those on mountain roads, and with good reason. The twists and turns of mountain roads combined with changes in steepness can make driving extremely hazardous. Speed differences also exist between highways and residential areas since there is more pedestrian traffic in residential areas. For those reasons, it’s better to drive slowly along mountain roads and on populated streets in order to prevent an accident. Weather also plays a part in how you should drive. Most guidebooks recommend driving 15 mph slower in the rain since the water can make the roads slick after a dry spell, and stray pools of water might cause your car to hydroplane. Cold weather can make driving conditions even worse. Approximately 24% of weather-related accidents happen in cold weather, mainly due to slick, icy roads. (DOT) Snow and sleet can also reduce visibility on the road, leading to accidents. If you ever find yourself driving in hazardous conditions, make sure to slow down and be aware of your surroundings.

The fourth and final step is to prevent any self-impairments from your attention while driving. In 2019, 3,142 people died in traffic accidents as a result of distracted driving. (NHTSA) Distracted driving comes in three forms: taking your eyes off the road, taking your hands off the wheel, and taking your mind off driving. The most common form of distracted driving involves all three: texting while driving. Texting while driving increases the risk of crashing by 23 times. (University of Utah) It’s an activity that most people, even I, have been guilty of. As I was backing out of my driveway to meet some friends on New Year’s Eve, I looked at my phone to check my texts and ended up hitting one of our guests’ car and leaving a dent. Needless to say, I ended up staying home that night. Other forms of distracted driving exist, too, such as eating while driving, checking the radio mid-commute, and paying too much attention to things off the road, like road signs. As a driver, you should do your utmost to keep yourself from getting distracted. If you have to take a call on the road, but the phone is on speaker and away from your person in order to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. If you pick up some fast food, wait until you get home to eat it. And if you absolutely have to send a text, pull off the road to a safe parking place before your start typing, or get one of your passengers to text for you, which I’ve done for my mom many a time.

Other forms of self-impairment can be just as or even more dangerous. Drunk driving, which contributed to 28% of all traffic fatalities in 2016, is the most prominent form of self-impairment. (NHTSA) Drowsy driving is another form of this, and around 100,000 crashes occur every year as a result of this. (National Sleep Foundation) As a driver, it’s critical that you do everything in your power to avoid these types of accidents. If you ever go out for a drink, make sure to have a designated driver or a cab lined up to get you safely home. If you suddenly feel fatigued at the wheel, rather than falling asleep, pull over to a safe rest area and take a short break or even a nap if time allows.

By taking the time to be aware of traffic laws, knowing your vehicle, being aware of your environment, and preventing self-impairment, you can do your part in reducing traffic accidents and fatalities.

Sources

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812115

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/weather_events/snow_ice.htm

https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-releases-2019-crash-fatality-data

https://archive.unews.utah.edu/news_releases/drivers-on-cell-phones-are-as-bad-as-drunks/

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812450

https://drowsydriving.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/DDPW-Drowsy-Driving-Facts.pdf