Safe driver

I consider myself a safe driver, but I had a wake-up call a few days ago.  I nearly rear-ended somebody.  The car I almost hit was stopped on a tree-lined, hardtop country road with a speed limit of 55—at dusk.  Actually, by skill and luck I avoided two accidents as there was also a car close in the approaching lane.

I made it safely into my driveway, but I was shaken and calling the driver of that stopped car every name in the book—idiot being the mildest.  Much later, I wondered if the driver of the on-coming car might have had a few choice things to say about me.

Over the last couple of days, as I talked to my friends about this incident, I’ve had a chance to think about how comfortable and complacent most people (including me) are about being driving safety.  We’re inclined to take it for granted that we are safe drivers.  Sometimes we’re not so sure about everybody else, but we assume we can compensate for their deficiencies.  Well…  We can’t, unless we’re prepared and consciously alert to the possibility of trouble.

I thought back to high school—to Driver’s Ed class.  Many of us were excited and anxious about driving.  (Some of our instructors were, too.)  Knowledge of driving laws was certainly an objective of that class, but so was giving us enough experience behind to wheel to take the edge off our excitement.  We needed to learn that calm, commonsense was a major key to being a safe driver.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that over the years I’ve replaced commonsense with a mild sense of contempt:  Of course I drive safely.  (Or do I?)  I decided to give myself  “a checkup from the neck up” on what I know to be safe driving practices—to consider if I really do practice them.

Speed limits, traffic signals, caution and warning signs, etc. are reminders and qualifiers of the laws learned online or from official pamphlets as we prepare to get a driver’s license.  These signs and signals qualify and enhance the general laws of the road and they are in place for a reason—safety (everybody’s) on the road.  It would be ridiculous to think any municipality or agency could field enough safety officers to provide ubiquitous guidance to motorists on all roadways at all times.  A driver’s knowledge of basic traffic laws and a respect for cautionary signs and limits takes the place of those officers.  (Can you imagine having police personnel at every corner directing traffic?  Or on every curve signaling for you to slow down?)

Those signs take the place of police and like a police officer, they are to be obeyed.  Their instructions are not subject to our convenience.  They can, however, be subject to conditions.  For example, speed limits indicate the maximum safe speed when road and weather conditions are ideal.  When less-than-ideal driving conditions exist (heavy rain, poor light, etc.), it makes sense to slow down.  Use some judgment—the police do.  Are you aware that you can be ticketed for “driving to fast for conditions?”

As safety, rather than convenience is the focus for driving laws, we need to be aware that our attitude and mood while driving influence that safety.  —Or rather, they shouldn't.  If I am driven by my feelings, I probably don’t have enough control over myself to be a safe driver.  Feelings turn our focus inward, but driving isn’t “all about me.”  Instead I need to focus on driving safely and pay attention to what is going on around me.  If I am focused on safety I will not drive too aggressively or be distracted.

Aggressive driving causes a lot of accidents.  Speeding and following too closely are some common aggressive driving practices.  (Allow yourself a 3 second space between your car and the one in front of you—a lot of braking can be done in 3 seconds.)  Changing lanes frequently is another habit of aggressive drivers.  Interestingly, there are studies that show we rarely make time (and often lose it) by weaving through traffic.  Often, when we demand or seize the right-of-way we are driving aggressively; most times when we refuse to yield the right-of-way we are driving aggressively.  Unfortunately, the reaction to aggression tends to be aggression:  Entitlement issues have no place in safe driving.

Distraction is another major contributor to unsafe driving.  A definition of distraction could be inattentiveness to the business at hand—driving safely.  Many things can be distracting. Many drivers think, “I’m only driving.”  They feel competent to divide their attention from the road with talking on the phone, texting, reading (checking the map falls into this category), and other activities that call for our interest and awareness.  How about daydreaming?  (I may even need to guard against how involved I get with some in-car conversations.)  Another source of distraction could be an “and suddenly”—a spilled drink, the baby’s cry, etc.  And, don’t forget rubbernecking:  An accident or a beautiful vista can be distracting.  Driving requires the driver’s attention; everything else must take a much lesser place.

Distraction is the key to that close encounter had the other day.  The driver of the stopped car was watching some deer move through the tree line.  It was a pleasant, familiar drive, even though dusk was making a little difficult to see.  The road is not generally a busy one, so here I came— intent on getting home—doing the speed limit (even though seeing was a little hard…).  And, before I saw the stopped car, I too noticed those deer.  I can imagine what went through the heart of the oncoming driver as I slipped around that other car.  We were all at risk.  Luck more than skill save the situation and we all know better than to count on luck.

Both aggression (including ignoring the law) and distraction hold an inherent trait of selfishness: Something influencing a driver is more important than the safety—than the life —of anybody and everybody on the road.  (His own life being no exception….)  But, many drivers are aggressive or get distracted.  The rest of us need to drive defensively to minimize any consequences we experience from their actions.

Driving refresher and defensive driving courses are available online and or through continuing education programs—some include actual or virtual driving experience in staged hazardous conditions.  These classes provide tips for many specific circumstances.

I think there are three general practices that that can significantly increase your margin of safety:

First, give yourself room—room to stop, room to move over, room to think.  And, not just because another driver might do something:  What are you going to do, where are you going to go if a tire blows or your motor suddenly dies?  When you are driving, space is time and can mean life.

Second, be alert to what is going on all around you, not just in front of you.  Among possible scenarios, the driver beside you may be showing signs of impatience (edging into your lane) or an accident behind your vehicle may be catching up to you.  Constantly using your mirrors and windows should be a matter of routine.

Third, go ahead and assume other drivers will err—by ignorance, accident, or on purpose.  Think about what they could do right now that would put you in a precarious situation.  Then think about what you can do to avoid mishap.  Even if nothing happens now, your mind can store the plans—and having the seed of a plan already in place may give you the precious time to act rather than become confused and distracted when something does happen.

As I think about the incident from the other night, there is one more important point to be made:  I’m somebody’s other driver.  None of us will forever drive faultlessly, but we have a responsibility to work at being a safe driver.  The goal of driving may be to get somewhere.  The concern has to be getting there safely.