One of the biggest truths in life is you can’t fix something if you aren’t aware of it. This is exactly what education is all about. By teaching drivers and future drivers about road hazards and making them aware of their actions, we can reduce both accidents and fatalities on the road.
Many drivers don’t pay attention to motorcycles on the roadway. As part of an active training program, motorcycle awareness should be addressed. This could be through simulator training, on the road training and additional classroom education.
In addition, motorcycle operators (and even bicyclist) need to be aware of their environment, follow safe operations and stay in the appropriate roadway sections where drivers can see them.
For many, the first experience of driving a vehicle occurs long before they ever get their driver’s license. This includes driving a kid’s electric car or peddle car around their driveway, riding their bike, or playing realistic visual simulations such as video games. If developers of video games, manufacturers of kid’s toys and bikes and other incorporated safety training into these first experiences, it would make the driving experience safer and develop safer habits for the future.
As drivers, we also need to be aware of the vehicles around us on the road. Their ability to stop (or lack of ability) such as a large commercial truck hauling a 26 ft. trailer, can keep a trucker from being able to stop their vehicle in an emergency situation. If a car pulls over in front of a truck, the car may be able to stop in 30 feet but the truck may need 200 feet to stop safely, as an example. Trucks need substantially more space if they are on a down-hill grade. Furthermore, trucks need extra space to make wide turns and allow the trailer to clear the intersection. By not being aware of the space requirements for the safe operation of the truck, puts both the truck and the other car at risk.
A major issue in accidents and deaths behind the wheel is distracted or impaired driving. This can come in multiple forms. Not just texting on your phone, but also adjusting the radio, adjusting your seat, working on your phone or computer, eating while driving, applying makeup while driving and more. We, as a society, have continually stressed multi-tasking. We are not using our time efficiently unless we are doing more than one thing at a time. Unfortunately, driving needs our full attention to reduce the potential for an accident of fatality.
In many communities they have added laws to penalize anyone texting and driving. Some of these laws are even broader and include other actions as well.
Beyond just doing too many things while driving, a driver can be impaired when behind the wheel. This is not just drinking and driving. It can include the affect of prescription, over the counter or illegal drugs on the ability of the driver to control their car and themselves.
Not only external stimulus but also internal processes can affect a person’s reactions and interpretations on the road can lead to accidents and deaths. This can affect anyone, anytime. Whether you are a driver traveling home from work or an airline pilot flying into Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, being tired can have deadly consequences.
On 8/18/83 a DC-8 airplane loaded with cargo headed to Guantanamo Bay. As they were configuring to land this difficult approach, the plane was forced to make a 30 degree turn in order to land. During the landing, the crew made several fatal errors in judgement including, but not limited to, the choice to make this particular approach when others were available, the choice to have the Captain instead of the first officer to make the landing (it is easier for the first officer to look out the right window to line up for the landing). These errors were made worse by the crew having been on duty for nearly 18 hours by the time they arrived at Guantanamo Bay. This lead to an almost guarantee of a crash. The investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the “substandard performance by an experienced pilot may have reflected the debilitating influences from fatigue.” If a captain with over 20,000 hours of commercial flight time who had been flying professionally for 27 years can be fatigued to the point of making deadly mistakes that even a rookie pilot would have avoided, just imagine the potential for catastrophe for an inexperienced, young driver who has been up for over 18 hours.
Drivers need to be made aware of this hazard. Knowing they may experience impaired judgement that can affect them as much as any external substance, helps drivers realize they should call an Uber instead of getting behind the wheel.
For this reason, commercial truckers have a maximum time limit they are permitted to be operating their vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires a driver take 10 hour break, with at least 7 hours in a berth, after a 14 hour driving window. A violation of duty time requirement can result in a loss of a trucker’s driver’s license or a commercial pilot’s flight credentials. Unfortunately there is no such regulation or oversight for individual drivers. Many drivers are not even aware of the risks involved.
Even if the driver is aware, alert and unimpaired, their vehicle can contribute to an accident. One of the easiest to fix and yet serious problem for a vehicle is the condition of the tires. A tire with a crack in the sidewall or no tread can fail without warning causing the driver to loose control of the vehicle and sending pieces of shrapnel flying toward other cars. Putting air in your tires and making sure your tires are not too badly warn (there are guidelines for this), can substantially improve your safe operation of the vehicle.
An easy way to check your tire tread safety is by using the Penny Test. Place a penny between the treads of the tire. Turn the penny so Lincoln’s head faces down into the tread. If the top of Lincoln’s head disappears, your tread is still within the safe limits. If you can see his entire head, it is time to replace your tires.
Also worth mentioning is to not drive on a flat tire. Tires will eventually shred causing the driver to try and drive on the metal rim. This can cause sparks and even burn up the car or cause a wildfire.
Eating and driving can have unexpected consequences. You spill your drink or drop your food causing unexpected driver movements leading to an accident. For example, my grandfather was eating a Wendy’s Hamburger. The tomato fell off of the burger and onto the floor. He reached over to retrieve the tomato and, when he did so, pulled the wheel to the right which forced the car out of the driving lane and into two parked cars on the side of the road. Thankfully nobody was injured but the damage to his vehicle alone was over $10,000. That was one really expensive hamburger.
Many people like to carry their pets in the car when they are driving from place to place. If the animal is secured in a carrier or with a pet seatbelt/vest, this is not usually a problem. However, having Rover running around unrestrained in the car or sitting on the driver’s lap (with his head hanging out the window), can lead to unexpected consequences. Even though the pet may not do anything to create a bad situation, the driver is still distracted by their pet and can make poor judgement calls. In addition, if there is an accident and the animal is not properly restrained, it could be injured or killed while running around loose in traffic after the accident. Just like with small children, pets should not be allowed in the front seat. The inflation of an airbag could kill them.
I feel I make every attempt to be a safe driver. I don’t talk on the phone when driving, I use my seatbelt and turn signals. When I am in the car with other drivers, I also make sure they utilize seatbelts and turn signals when appropriate. Some of the new features on cars can help reinforce good driving habits and respond in the event of unexpected traffic issues.
My vehicle comes with Automatic Breaking so that if a car ahead of me stops unexpectedly, it will apply the break before humanly possible. I also have dynamic cruise control to help me avoid accidentally tailgating on the interstate. Another feature included in Lane Departure Warning. This helps me make sure I don’t drift out of my lane of traffic accidentally. It also reminds me if I have forgotten to use my turn signal as I change lanes.
As technology improves, we will see other features become easily available on the family car. At this time you can purchase a Tesla with self-driving capabilities. We already know that the computer can react quicker and more correctly more times than a human. While the industry continues to improve the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence programs driving the cars, we will see more use of this technology in the vehicles. This should substantially decrease the number of accidents and subsequently save lives.