Through
My Rear-View Mirror

By:
D’Marcus H. Moon

Picture.
This.


You
are driving peacefully with the radio moderately playing in the
background on a sunny afternoon; in which you glance routinely
through your rear-view mirror as you approach the traffic stop and
see a deranged individual with a .38
caliber gun
aimed directly at you! How would you respond? Would you panic? Not a
day goes by where this circumstance is not replayed in my mind, as I
was personally traumatized by the aforementioned situation. Vehicle
type? Black Honda Ridgeline Truck. Location? Glenbrook Square Mall.
Gender? Male. Race? Caucasian. Gun type? .38 caliber. Repeat
over and over again.
My name is D’Marcus Moon and I am currently a graduate-student at
Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas. More
importantly, those individuals who choose to drive aggressively
account for 33.3% of the U.S. traffic accidents today. Therefore, one
should always drive “defensively” and be aware of their
surroundings. To further add, once you have recognized a potential
hazard and decided on how you will respond to the alert, act
immediately. Overall, drivers who are defensive will ultimately avoid
dangers through their use of safe practices…

Below,
I have provided a list of guidelines to help lower your risks while
operating behind the wheel;

Tips
for defensive driving:

1.
Think safety first; avoid aggressive and inattentive driving
tendencies; leave plenty of space between the vehicles in front of
you; always lock your doors and wear your seatbelt for purposes of
protection.

2.
Be aware of your surroundings; pay attention. Start by frequently
checking your mirrors and scanning 20-30 seconds ahead of you. If a
vehicle is displaying signs of aggressive driving, simply slow down
or pull over to avoid any problems. Furthermore, if the driver is
handling their car dangerously, try to get off the roadway
immediately. Finally, be sure to steer clear of pedestrians,
bicyclists, and pets alongside the road.

3.
Be prepared to react; never assume another driver is going to move
out of your way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run
through red lights and/or traffic stops. Plan your movements
according to the “worst-case” scenario.
4.
Follow the 3- to 4-second rule. Since the greatest chance of a
collision is in front of you, using the 3-to 4-second rule will allow
you to establish and maintain a safe following distance and provide
adequate time for you to brake if a stop is necessary. If the weather
is severe, increase your following distance.
5.
In all driving situations, the best way to avoid potential dangers is
to position your vehicle where you have the best chance of seeing and
being seen.

6.
Cut out distractions; as driving deserves your full attention.
In
the end, if my choice was to get out of the car instead of calling
the police; there would be no opportunity for me to share my story…
You can look through your rear-view mirror not only in the car, but
as you journey through life.