People love to drive. Driving allows us to go just about anywhere we want to. It has literally taken the place of walking for millions of teenagers, working adults, and retirees.
But as efficient and enjoyable as driving can be, it can also be very dangerous. According to The National Safety Council and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- More than 43,000 Americans die each year in auto crashes.
- More than 2.5 million Americans suffer disabling injuries each year in auto crashes.
- The majority of people killed in automobile crashes were not wearing seat belts.
- 41 percent of all driving fatalities involve alcohol.
- The highest driving fatality rates are for drivers age 85 and older and age 16 and younger.
- The traffic death rate is three times higher at night than in daylight.
- Drivers age 20 and under (6.7 percent of all drivers) are involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes.
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in 15- to 20-year-olds.
- Drivers age 70 and older (9 percent of the population) are involved in 14 percent of all fatal crashes.
- Older drivers and passengers are more likely to wear seatbelts than other age groups.
Most automobile accidents are the result of some level of human error. It could be yours, the other driver's, or a combination. You have control of your driving behavior, including those behaviors that increase the risks of injury and death.
What Creates the Risks?
Most of the common risk factors in driving will come as no surprise to you. We tend to think that it is all those other drivers that cause problems. That is not usually the case. Take some time to look at what drivers – including you – do that might increase risks.
- Stress and anxiety can make it hard to stay focused while driving.
- Anger can accelerate into road rage and overcome good judgment.
- Poor visibility hides potential driving dangers until it is too late.
- Speed – too much or too little – increases your risk of an accident.
- Following too closely to the car in front can cause rear-end accidents.
- If your are tired or ill, your driving concentration is diminished.
- Alcohol or drugs (even some prescription drugs) are deadly when mixed with driving.
- By not wearing a seat belt, you double your risk of injury in an accident.
- Daydreaming, animated talking, loud music, and cell phones take your attention away from driving – which is your primary task when you're behind the wheel.
Driving is a job that requires constant attention and focus. Anything less puts you and your passengers at risk. A life-threatening situation can occur in a split second.
What Can You Do?
Most car crashes could be avoided with common sense and some prior planning. To ensure the safest possible driving:
- Keep a three-second safety cushion between you and the car in front of you.
- Plan your trip before you start so you don't have to worry about navigating. Or get a GPS navigation device to guide you to your destination.
- Keep your radio volume low, and don't daydream.
- Don't talk on a cell phone. If you need to talk, pull over.
- Keep your headlights, mirrors, and windows clean.
- Always use your directional signals before making a turn.
- Check your mirrors frequently.
- Have your headlights properly aimed so you don't create glare problems for oncoming traffic, or restrict your own viewing area.
- ALWAYS wear seat belts, and require all passengers to wear them too.
- Have your vision and hearing checked periodically.
- NEVER drive when you have been drinking. Stay put, or use a designated driver.
- Don't drive significantly faster or slower than the flow of traffic.
- Be particularly careful when driving at night. The older you get, the more difficulty you will have seeing at night.
- If you feel sleepy, pull over and rest, walk around and stretch your muscles, get a cup of coffee, or stop someplace for a few hours of sleep.
- Keep to the right except to pass.
- Don't start driving until everyone in the car has fastened their seatbelts.
- If you see someone driving erratically, pull over or turn off until they pass. Then, notify the police.
- Slow down in dangerous conditions, pull over to avoid danger, and don't contest the right-of-way. You will not significantly change your arrival time, and it might save your life.
This is just a partial list. You can decide what would make your driving safer and add those ideas to the list.
Most young people are required to take a driver training course in order to get a driver's license. People over 50 can enroll in a refresher course. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers a course called AARP Driver Safety Program. A secondary benefit for either of these types of training is lower insurance costs.
Take Care of Yourself
Make sure your health and fitness levels are equal to the task of driving.
- Can you see well enough to drive at night?
- Can you hear other cars, emergency vehicles, or sounds like horns and skidding tires?
- Do you take medications that might make you sleepy or lethargic?
- Do you know where you are going without having to take your concentration away from driving to search for signs? Stop and ask for directions in a public place, such as a service station or convenience store.
Being well rested, alert, knowledgeable, and prepared will make your driving safer as well as more fun.
Resources:
Injury Prevention Resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
