Dangers of Driving

To be the best driver you can be you have to be aware of the worst that’s out there. Forewarned is forearmed. If you understand the things that can happen you will be able to prevent many dangerous situations or handle them better when they occur.

If you’re a decent driver who pays attention to the rules of the road, you’ll know that the biggest danger on the road is your fellow driver rather than yourself. You’ve heard it a million times. It’s impossible to know the driving skill of another driver or his state of mind. The oncoming vehicle may be driven by an emotional teen or a drunken middle-aged man. It may be filled with noisy children and a distracted mother. It could be another teen, chatting away on her cell phone, oblivious to what is going on around her. You must be alert to any sudden and unexpected moves made by anyone else. There are some accidents that cannot be avoided, but if you remain aware of other drivers you can avoid many of them.

It’s a good idea to keep your car in good condition. Keep the oil changed and do routine checks and maintenance. A rattle-trap car that putt-putts down the street, coughing and smoking all the way, will be a danger not only to you but to other drivers. Should brakes suddenly give out you could be rear-ended. Windshield wipers that don’t work properly can block your view of other traffic and might even prevent you from seeing important road signs and signals. You can also be sure that a car that isn’t maintained will catch the eye of a police officer sooner or later, and you really don’t want that.

Weather is an important factor in safe driving. Heavy or prolonged rains can make roadways slick or difficult to see. Roads that become iced over are very dangerous. Snow can obstruct vision and make roads very hard to navigate. Stay off the roads when there are weather advisories against driving, and be sure to install tire chains before the bad weather sets in if you live in an area where they are necessary. Know what to do to come out of a skid, and how to maintain control of your vehicle when your wheel traction is less than optimal.

Think through various scenarios and plan ahead what you’ll do when caught in a dicey traffic situation. Remember that you will never rear-end someone no matter how quickly they may come to a stop if you have allowed enough room between your vehicles. Keep your distance. It gives you wiggle room for reaction.

A big danger for teens when driving is their belief that they are invulnerable and their willingness to take risks. Drag racing or daredevil driving kills many teens each year. So does drinking and driving or driving under the influence of drugs. Innocent passengers get killed due to the foolish antics of a showoff. The privilege of driving is awesome, but so is the responsibility that goes along with it.  Take it seriously because your life depends upon it.