Driving is a huge responsibility. That large and heavy hunk of metal with a motor you are operating, can cause tremendous damage, hurt, and in some cases, kill people. The reality of it is, we've all sat in traffic as every passer-by slows to take a look at the wreckage of a serious accident. Upon passing, we think to ourselves, "Good thing we had to stop at the store." Whatever the cause, timing or fate (as some might believe), according to Reader's Digest, the odds of being involved in a fender bender are seven times in a lifetime of driving. One in twenty of these can be serious enough to cause injuries. Those odds are quite high, and can actually increase when driving in a foreign country such as Mexico, where the safety standards are not monitored. However, there are many things we can do to decrease those odds. Bad driving habits have a big influence. It seems that with greater experience on the road, one becomes over-confident and more relaxed.
For instance, Mr. Jones, the "traveling salesman" looks down at his cellular to dial a number, his car rears off to the left and hits an oncoming vehicle. Making a phone call while driving is something he's probably done a hundred times without any consequence, and hindsight will tell him, he should have pulled over to make that call, but chances are he will do it again. Something else to think about; if your stereo is blaring, how can you hear any sirens or the horn from an approaching automobile or truck?
On how many occasions, have you made a turn forgetting to use your indicator or pulled out of your driveway and realized someone had to stop to accommodate you? Come on, we've all done it. It always bewilders me to hear the words, "But the car came out of nowhere, really. I looked both ways." It's very unlikely it fell from the sky! Maybe it's time to start paying more attention to our driving behaviors.
Statistics show that using your low-beam headlights (not high beams) during the day will decrease the chances of a two-vehicle collision.This system, used in Canada and several of the Nordic countries, has proven to reduce daytime accidents by up to 20 percent. As noted by Michael Perel, research engineer for Crash Avoidance, "Before a driver vehicle respond to an oncoming car, the driver has to see it, identify it and then judge the likely-hood of a collision."
Checking your car for safety has a tremendous impact on avoiding unfortunate incidents; with brakes and tires being the largest factor. Think about traveling down the highway at high speed when a horse decides to cross without warning, or someone backs out of his or her driveway without looking. When you can't stop on time because of faulty brakes or tires, you can be sure that the damage done will increase in proportion.
Remember, if Mr. Jones, the "traveling salesman," had checked his tires and had them properly aligned, he probably wouldn't have crossed over into the oncoming traffic. Pay now, or pay later!
Far from a glass of spilled milk, typically, vehicle collisions are referred to as "accidents" when actually they can be directly attributed to negligence either in checking the vehicle or being mindful on the road. Drivers have a huge responsibility while operating a vehicle of any size, and anything we can do to improve safety on the road is a welcome benefit to all, including the insurance companies, whose premiums are also affected (but that's another story).
