It is true, most drivers believe they are really very good drivers. But what is the criterion that defines what a good driver is?
Some feel strongly that the answer is "a good driver follows all of the rules of the road". Some insist that their ability to weave in and out of traffic at high speed places them in the "above average" club. Others suggest that attention to traffic; risk perception and the application of strategies to reduce their risk of crashing make them better than the average Joe on the road.
It appears that the latter have it right. Most crashes can be avoided by any of the drivers involved, regardless of who was at legal fault. And although I do not have space here to explain every crash risk reducing strategy, there are a few simple things that I will share here today that any driver can do. And these tips will dramatically reduce your chances of dying in a car crash.
Tip #1) When starting up at an intersection on a new green light, pause, and while you take your foot from the brake to the gas pedal, check left, then centre, then right to make sure that any potential cross traffic has stopped.
This is a very important habit. Many drivers see the light change to green and, like they were told all their lives, "green means go." Without a second thought, they press the accelerator only to position their vehicle directly in the path of the driver who ran the red light. As pedestrians, we know better than to step onto the road just because the light changed. As drivers our perception seems to change with the metal cage that surrounds us. Lights are only indicators that tell us which direction of traffic has the legal right to proceed. But can lights stop cars? No. Only drivers can do that. A very large portion of traffic deaths each year could be prevented if this simple habit were adopted by drivers.
Tip #2) Avoid driving in other drivers blind spots.
Not all drivers check their blind spots before making a lane change. It is a smart driving practice to avoid driving in any other vehicles blind spot. How can you tell if you are in a blind spot? Glance into the side view mirror of the car in question. If you can see the driver, the driver can see you. If you can not see the driver, it is likely that the driver can not see you either and that you are in their blind spot. Simply adjust your speed to get out of that position.
Tip #3) Look further ahead as you drive.
The faster you are going, the more distance your vehicle will travel while you perceive a problem ahead, and you continue traveling while you get your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. If you are not looking far enough ahead at higher speeds, by the time you see a problem, you could have already hit it. Looking further ahead also gives a driver early warning to construction ahead, busses in the lane or traffic problems. By looking ahead, these can be seen early enough to make lane or route adjustments long before these things become a problem for you. How far ahead should you look? At lower speeds and typical city speeds, a block to a block and a half ahead is a good idea. At faster speeds and freeway speeds, a good kilometer is best. When visibility is restricted, slow down to compensate for the lowered response distance you will have.
Tip #4) Maintain a safe following distance.
We have all heard this one before but few seem to understand why it is important.
The average driver has a perception time of 3/4 of a second. That means that it takes you and me 3/4 of a second to realize there is a problem. The average driver also has a 3/4 of a second reaction time. That means that the average driver takes about 3/4 of a second to get their foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal and all of that happens before their car begins to decelerate. How far a car travels in that 1.5 seconds (the time you are perceiving the problem and then getting your foot from the gas to the brake) depends on the speed that the car is traveling. If your car is moving at 30/kmH, your will travel 6m in 3/4 of a second while your brain realizes that a child is running from behind the car, 6m while you get your foot from the gas to the brake and now, you requires an average of 6m to stop the car. Although the car stopped in 6m, we traveled 18m from the time we started to perceive the problem to finish point where the car stopped. When a car is going 100/kmH the perception and reaction times stay the same, but the distances we travel as we go through perception, reaction and stopping changes. You will travel 21m in the 3/4 second you are perceiving, 21m in the 3/4 second you are reacting and then you will require an average of 88m to bring your vehicle to a stop.
When you are traveling behind another vehicle, moving at the same speed, what is your first clue that the vehicle ahead of you is stopping? If you said "their brake lights come on" you are right. (Unless their brake lights do not work, and then it will be the rapid rate at which the space between you is closing that will alert you.) Once the brake lights of the car ahead of you are on, you know that the foot of the driver ahead of you is already on the brake pedal. They are already stopping. You however, have just begun. You have to perceive, and react and stop before you hit the vehicle ahead of you. It is for this reason that drivers are encouraged to follow the 2 second rule. Two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you will ensure that you always have enough time to stop before you hit the person in front. At freeway speeds, it is wise to make that a 3 second rule and in adverse conditions you want to increase it accordingly for the road surface.
Tip#5) Check your mirror every 5-10 seconds and anytime you think you may need to brake. Why? By checking that frequently, you will maintain a mental picture of all the traffic around you. You will know where your best escape routes are if others begin to crash. You will see emergency vehicles early enough to get out of their way before they are on your tail. You will be alert to drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic at high speed so you will not make the mistake of making a lane change into them as they pass you. Most importantly, you will be sure that it is safe to brake before you touch the brake pedal, reducing your risk of being hit from behind.
Almost every driver has areas where he or she could lower their risk of crashing. By taking the initiative to implement new strategies into your driving habits, you will make your travels safer for you and those you travel with.
Some feel strongly that the answer is "a good driver follows all of the rules of the road". Some insist that their ability to weave in and out of traffic at high speed places them in the "above average" club. Others suggest that attention to traffic; risk perception and the application of strategies to reduce their risk of crashing make them better than the average Joe on the road.
It appears that the latter have it right. Most crashes can be avoided by any of the drivers involved, regardless of who was at legal fault. And although I do not have space here to explain every crash risk reducing strategy, there are a few simple things that I will share here today that any driver can do. And these tips will dramatically reduce your chances of dying in a car crash.
Tip #1) When starting up at an intersection on a new green light, pause, and while you take your foot from the brake to the gas pedal, check left, then centre, then right to make sure that any potential cross traffic has stopped.
This is a very important habit. Many drivers see the light change to green and, like they were told all their lives, "green means go." Without a second thought, they press the accelerator only to position their vehicle directly in the path of the driver who ran the red light. As pedestrians, we know better than to step onto the road just because the light changed. As drivers our perception seems to change with the metal cage that surrounds us. Lights are only indicators that tell us which direction of traffic has the legal right to proceed. But can lights stop cars? No. Only drivers can do that. A very large portion of traffic deaths each year could be prevented if this simple habit were adopted by drivers.
Tip #2) Avoid driving in other drivers blind spots.
Not all drivers check their blind spots before making a lane change. It is a smart driving practice to avoid driving in any other vehicles blind spot. How can you tell if you are in a blind spot? Glance into the side view mirror of the car in question. If you can see the driver, the driver can see you. If you can not see the driver, it is likely that the driver can not see you either and that you are in their blind spot. Simply adjust your speed to get out of that position.
Tip #3) Look further ahead as you drive.
The faster you are going, the more distance your vehicle will travel while you perceive a problem ahead, and you continue traveling while you get your foot from the gas to the brake pedal. If you are not looking far enough ahead at higher speeds, by the time you see a problem, you could have already hit it. Looking further ahead also gives a driver early warning to construction ahead, busses in the lane or traffic problems. By looking ahead, these can be seen early enough to make lane or route adjustments long before these things become a problem for you. How far ahead should you look? At lower speeds and typical city speeds, a block to a block and a half ahead is a good idea. At faster speeds and freeway speeds, a good kilometer is best. When visibility is restricted, slow down to compensate for the lowered response distance you will have.
Tip #4) Maintain a safe following distance.
We have all heard this one before but few seem to understand why it is important.
The average driver has a perception time of 3/4 of a second. That means that it takes you and me 3/4 of a second to realize there is a problem. The average driver also has a 3/4 of a second reaction time. That means that the average driver takes about 3/4 of a second to get their foot from the gas pedal to the brake pedal and all of that happens before their car begins to decelerate. How far a car travels in that 1.5 seconds (the time you are perceiving the problem and then getting your foot from the gas to the brake) depends on the speed that the car is traveling. If your car is moving at 30/kmH, your will travel 6m in 3/4 of a second while your brain realizes that a child is running from behind the car, 6m while you get your foot from the gas to the brake and now, you requires an average of 6m to stop the car. Although the car stopped in 6m, we traveled 18m from the time we started to perceive the problem to finish point where the car stopped. When a car is going 100/kmH the perception and reaction times stay the same, but the distances we travel as we go through perception, reaction and stopping changes. You will travel 21m in the 3/4 second you are perceiving, 21m in the 3/4 second you are reacting and then you will require an average of 88m to bring your vehicle to a stop.
When you are traveling behind another vehicle, moving at the same speed, what is your first clue that the vehicle ahead of you is stopping? If you said "their brake lights come on" you are right. (Unless their brake lights do not work, and then it will be the rapid rate at which the space between you is closing that will alert you.) Once the brake lights of the car ahead of you are on, you know that the foot of the driver ahead of you is already on the brake pedal. They are already stopping. You however, have just begun. You have to perceive, and react and stop before you hit the vehicle ahead of you. It is for this reason that drivers are encouraged to follow the 2 second rule. Two seconds between you and the vehicle ahead of you will ensure that you always have enough time to stop before you hit the person in front. At freeway speeds, it is wise to make that a 3 second rule and in adverse conditions you want to increase it accordingly for the road surface.
Tip#5) Check your mirror every 5-10 seconds and anytime you think you may need to brake. Why? By checking that frequently, you will maintain a mental picture of all the traffic around you. You will know where your best escape routes are if others begin to crash. You will see emergency vehicles early enough to get out of their way before they are on your tail. You will be alert to drivers who are weaving in and out of traffic at high speed so you will not make the mistake of making a lane change into them as they pass you. Most importantly, you will be sure that it is safe to brake before you touch the brake pedal, reducing your risk of being hit from behind.
Almost every driver has areas where he or she could lower their risk of crashing. By taking the initiative to implement new strategies into your driving habits, you will make your travels safer for you and those you travel with.
L. Goodwin is a former senior instructor for Young Drivers of Canada and Collision Free!(tm). She currently oversees the design of defensive driving rallies and adventure rallies for Rabid Entertainment Inc. Her rallies are used as team building exercises for corporate groups in and around the Calgary area. [http://rabid-entertainment.com] |
Traffic collision is really dangerous and no one wants it to happen! In driving, presence of mind is a must so you'll be able to know the right moves. And whatever happens on the road and in other drivers, keep in mind that following road signs and rules are important.
ReplyDeleteClint Moore
I believe that a good driver is one who's always careful when on the road. Whenever I'm driving on the road, I'm always on the lookout for accidents and I always try to steer clear of risky situations. Accidents are unpredictable. But they aren't unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteEthan Rehman