It Happened So Fast!
How many times have you heard this description from someone
involved in a vehicle accident? It’s true. It takes only a second or two for
a crash to happen. However, it also takes only a second or two to avoid a
crash—by driving defensively.
Defensive driving can save time, money, and lives. Most
crashes may be preventable and any driver can acquire the knowledge and
skills to avoid them. Defensive driving saves time by preventing lost time
due to injuries, damage, and delays caused by accidents. And it saves money.
According to the AAA, the economic impact of motor vehicle-related accidents
in the United States is over $164 billion per year.1 Most importantly, defensive
driving can save lives. The CDC reports that more than 41,000 people die in
motor vehicle crashes each year.2
Defensive driving begins with you
We usually think defensive driving means guarding against
the actions of other drivers, but it actually starts with ourselves. Before
you turn the key in the ignition, assess your readiness to drive.
Are you
fatigued, stressed, or under the influence of alcohol or medication that
could impair driving?
Is your
vehicle in good running condition? Breakdowns, flat tires, and brake
failures increase accident risk.
Plan your
route and prepare for your trip so you won’t be rushed.
Avoid
eating, talking on a cell phone, or reaching for objects.
Always make
sure you and all passengers wear seat belts.
Defending yourself against other drivers’ mistakes is more
complex, but your response can mean the difference between life or death.
These tips may help you recognize dangerous situations and plan your
reactions accordingly.
When someone is on your tail…
Remember that driving is not a competition and resist angry
or revengeful responses. Avoid sudden stops. Gradually reduce your speed and
allow the person to pass you if possible. Allow extra space between your
vehicle and the one ahead so if you are rear-ended, you won’t hit the
vehicle in front of you. Follow the two-second rule; that is, your following
distance should be at least two seconds travel time behind the vehicle in
front of you. To measure, pick a landmark such as a tree or a sign that the
vehicle ahead of you has not passed. When the vehicle’s rear bumper passes
the landmark, start counting seconds “one thousand one, one thousand two.”
If your front bumper reaches the landmark before you finish counting, you
are following too closely. Add one to four seconds for additional driving
conditions (weather, speed, darkness, towing a trailer, etc.).
When passing or being passed…
Before passing a slower vehicle, always ask yourself, “Is it
necessary and is it safe?” Many passes don’t really save time, but do
increase your risk. Maintain a safe following distance before passing, for
two reasons—the vehicle in front of you could still stop suddenly and the
closer you are to the vehicle, the harder it is to see around it.
Watch for
oncoming traffic and check mirrors.
Look over
your shoulder to check blind spots.
Use turn
signals and don’t exceed the speed limit to pass.
Before
returning to the lane, look in your review mirror and make sure you can see
the pavement in front of the vehicle you just passed.
When being
passed, maintain speed or slow down.
If you are
driving slower than the flow of traffic or a line of cars forms behind you,
pull off in a safe spot and let the traffic pass by.
When a car is heading toward you…
Defensive drivers constantly scan the road ahead and to the
sides for a possible escape from a head-on collision. If an oncoming car
swerves into your lane, slow down and honk your horn. Veer to the right,
since the other driver is likely to move back into his or her own lane after
recovering control. It is always better to drive onto the shoulder or into a
ditch rather than be hit head-on. If you must hit something, a still object
such as a pole or tree is the better choice because it has no momentum of
its own. Avoid slamming on the brakes which can cause skidding. Whether
colliding with an object or an oncoming car, aim as far to the right as
possible to lessen the collision intensity. You may be injured, but are less
likely to be killed.
You can rehearse split-second decisions so that when “it
happens so fast,” you will have a chance to defend yourself and your
passengers. Ask your insurer, your association, or your local law
enforcement agencies for more information on defensive driving.
1 “AAA Says Auto Accidents Cost $164.2 Billion a Year,”
Jonathan Welsh, Wall Street
Journal, March 5, 2008,
http://s.wsj.net/article/SB120468598041712629.html?mod=AutosChannelOwnership_RelatedHeadlines
2 “Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Motor
Vehicle-Related Injuries: Evidence of Effectiveness from Systematic
Reviews,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007,
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/mvsafety.htm.
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