Section 3 - ATTITUDES THAT KILL ATTITUDES THAT KILL Certain driving conditions or driver attitudes create a driver who is an accident looking for a place to happen. Here are some of the more common ones: No Harm, No Foul Breaking the law is something everyone does, sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly. When we deliberately do things we know are illegal and get away with it, we are encouraged to do it again. Usually, these violations are small ones with minimal consequences, and even basically "law-abiding" people are guilty of transgressing these types of laws. It is estimated that the average driver performs over 400 illegal maneuvers before being stopped and cited. Exceeding the speed limit, rolling through stop signs, making illegal U-turns, not signaling turns or lane changes -- the list of infractions can go on and on. When we think no one is looking, we don't see it as a problem and operate on a "no harm, no foul" attitude. The problem is that even violating the smallest traffic law can place your life and the lives of others in jeopardy. During times of war, an oft-heard adage is, "It is the bullet you do not hear that kills you." Well, in driving, this could be replaced with, "It is the car you do not see that kills you." State Troopers will tell you the most common excuse they hear from drivers involved in accidents is, "I never saw the other car." How many times have you yourself almost had an accident and, after calming down, thought, "I didn't even see him!" That is the car that can kill you! Traffic laws are man-made, yet they are based on natural laws. A person can never get away with violating the laws of nature without paying the consequences. Step off a building, and gravity will get you every time. And with traffic laws, while drivers may not experience consequences "every time" they violate them, sooner or later the laws of nature have to take effect as well. And when that happens, the consequences that should most concern someone are not those the DMV imposes, but the consequences of permanent injury or death. Harming yourself or someone else is possible at any time you violate a traffic law. If not the first time, then the next time, or some other time after that. That is why traffic laws exist, not to deprive a driver of convenience or fun, but to save your life or the lives of others. Interestingly, one of the unconscious assumptions we make before we "break the law" is that the other driver will not break it as well. If, for example, we ignore a stop sign, we assume the guy entering from the cross street will stop. What if the other guy is also ignoring the law? If he happens to do it at the exact same time we do -- well, the result could easily be oblivion. It is always best to follow the "Golden Rule of Driving": Drive the way you want others to drive. The Perpetual Adolescent When most drivers grow up, their driving changes to accommodate their mature understanding of the responsibility of driving and the fact that they share the road with millions of others. Unfortunately, some people never grow up. They are perpetual adolescents. It is the nature of some adolescents to test limits and to seek adventure. It is also the nature of adolescents to attempt to prove their maturity through a juvenile concept of immortality. Driving, for them, is an opportunity to prove that they are independent from rules and regulations. "Rules were made to be broken," they boast. A truly mature individual can see that the perpetual adolescent is only advertising, through his or her driving style, insecurities and a stunted emotional state. If that were all it was, so what. But, unfortunately, perpetual adolescents are a constant source of danger to themselves and others. Fast, reckless, rule-flouting driving does not prove maturity. It proves the opposite. A real adult accepts responsibility and drives safely. The Angry Driver Everyone occasionally becomes frustrated and angry. But some people seem to have that disposition all the time. Things like taking the right-of-way from those who are entitled to it, tail-gating, horn-blowing at the slightest inconvenience, driving too fast for the conditions, and weaving in and out of traffic can all point to the symptoms of an angry driver. Whether it be a temporary condition or a personality style, anger and driving can be every bit as dangerous as drinking and driving. Driving while angry is like playing with a loaded gun. It may not go off, but it could; and if it does, it can kill. When people are angry, they may well need to vent it; but it should never be done behind the steering wheel of a vehicle. The first step is simply to identify the fact that you are angry and remind yourself that you have a dangerous weapon in your hands. The second step is to try identifying the frustration making you angry. Most anger comes from feeling impotent. Impotence means feeling helpless in dealing with a situation. Some examples might be waiting in rush hour traffic when you have an appointment or being stuck behind the little old lady going fifty in the fast lane. When we feel impotent or helpless, we feel a surge of anger intended as fuel to destroy the source of those feelings. Drivers may feel like ramming the car ahead or cutting it off when they finally get an opportunity to go around it. But it is a recipe for disaster that does not need to happen. You're helpless only if you tell yourself you are. Do not make yourself helpless -- and you are the only one who can. Feeling helpless is a decision you make -- not something other people impose. Tell yourself, "This is a problem only if I tell myself it is a problem." If you are still angry, then try to think of ways to ventilate your anger other than through driving. Tell yourself, "Expressing my anger in my driving is not worth the dangerous consequences." Nothing making you angry is worth killing yourself or someone else. Did you know? As of 2002, there is a new bill in Virginia that states if a person violates one or more convictions relating to agressive driving, it is a 4-demerit point violation and a Class 2 misdemeanor. Under this law, agressive driving can be classified as: being a hazard to another person; or intending to harass, intimidate, injure or obstruct another person. The Road Hog Road hogs are basically selfish people. They drive as if they are the only ones entitled to be on the road and resent having to move or adapt to the presence of other drivers. All licensed drivers have earned the privilege of being on the road. We all must have the maturity to share. We should all have enough self-respect not to desire appearing to others as selfish, inconsiderate people. If you are being affected by road hogs who will not share the road, do not allow their selfishness to diminish your maturity. Feel superior if you must, but let it manifest itself in a superior demonstration of responsible behavior. The Oblivious Driver Life's frustrations and problems, talking on a cellular phone, even daydreaming, all can distract and make drivers oblivious to what's happening around them. Be alert to anything possibly taking your mind from the road. Remember, you are in a deadly weapon, and it will never pay to lose your concentration on driving. It takes only one lapse to bring great sorrow and remorse to your family or another family. Driving requires your full and undivided attention. If you tend to be oblivious when driving, one good suggestion is to place an easily seen note on your visor that says, "Am I paying attention?" Common distractions: I'm sure you can think of many ways people get distracted while driving. Here are just a few: * Cell phones! * Eating food * Putting on make-up * Reading (yes, some people actually try to read while driving!) * Rummaging around for CD's, etc. * Watching T.V. * Other passengers can be distracting * Anything else that takes your eyes and attention from the road! It is dangerous when people get so comfortable with driving that they feel overconfident and invincible. What happens is they start thinking that they can multitask instead of focusing solely on driving safely. As a new driver, you learned all the rules of the road and you used them wisely. But, you can't forget all the rules and safety measures later on! For example, if you ever find yourself making a dangerous lunge for a CD that is sliding off your seat while you are traveling at 65 mph, you need to remind yourself that that one motion is keeping you from driving defensively. Did you know that as of July 1, 2005 there is legislation that says that a driver may not view T.V. or any type of motion picture or video while driving. If you get caught, the citation will say "Operate with TV Screen Visible to Driver". It seems like everyone has a cell phone these days, but using one while driving is not safe! It is best to have a hands free system where you do not have to hold the phone while talking, but even that takes your attention away from the road. States like New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Connecticut have already banned cell phone usage while driving and many others are discussing the topic or have banned it for bus drivers only. In Virginia, minors are banned from using cell phones while driving as of January 2005. Already most of Europe, the United Kingdom, and parts of Asia and Africa ban cell phone use while driving. You can see why, can't you? Each time you take your mind, ears, and maybe even your hands away from the task of driving, you are putting you and others at risk of a crash. The best thing to do is pull over and call when you are safely stopped. Ego Strength and Driving The stronger the self-image that drivers have, the less threatened they will be by what happens around them. Identifying with one's vehicle is a symptom of a weak ego. Insecure people imagine everything that happens on the road is a direct threat to them personally. Someone cuts them off, and they must retaliate: "Who do those people think they are to cut me off?" "Who do those people think they are not to get out of my way?" The irrational thoughts of insecure people can keep them constantly upset. Everything around them is interpreted as "threat, no-threat." It is as if they think other drivers are testing them, and they're not going to let anyone get away with anything. They are a menace on the road. Mature people with a strong self-image do not allow ego to become involved when others act recklessly. They are more prone to think, "Why should I endanger myself and my family just because the other driver is stupid?" Don't be a lemming and drive off the cliff just because someone does something wrong. Instead, say, "This indicates a problem for him. It is not a threat to me unless I make it so, and I choose to not make it a threat. ROAD RAGE At certain times, we all identify strongly with our vehicles and express emotions through our driving behavior. Under normal circumstances, the heavy traffic and unpredictable nature of other drivers is stressful enough. Where it gets to be a traffic problem, however, is when youre already having a bad day/week/month, and the driver in front happens to be driving too slow (in your opinion), or cuts in front too abruptly, or drives up your tail pipe following behind too close for comfort. At this point, some drivers take this driving behavior PERSONALLY. Something inside of us wont take this (choice of expletive) anymore, and we cry out Im going to get you!! Unless you take a breath and get a grip, you may end up indulging in what is clinically called Road Rage. From minor incidents such as being flipped off after an awkward lane change to the famous dog throwing incident where a man stopped an elderly motorist and threw her dog into highway traffic, road rage is on the rise. The seriousness of this crime is second only to a DUI offense. According to reports from the AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety (not affiliated with the American Automobile Association), More than 45 million motorists have engaged in aggressive driving and road rage driving behavior. Ten percent exhibit this behavior several times a week and 22 percent exhibited this type of behavior once a month. (www.wa.gov/dol/drivers/roadrage.htm) According to the AAA, 18 to 28-year-old males are the most likely candidates to succumb to road rage, though no one is immune from losing their cool behind the wheel. However, indulging in that momentary burst of road warrior mentality and engaging someone in a vehicle fight will not teach that person a lesson. Further, your aggressive actions can lead to fatalities, permanent disability, or worsethe death or dismemberment of an innocent driver who may get caught up in your road battle. Before you throw down your driving gauntlets, use one of the following recommended coping behaviors listed in the AAA report: * Assume other drivers mistakes are not personal. * Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not. * Avoid all conflict if possible. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and get out of the way. * Understand that you can't control traffic, only your reaction to it. * Do not tailgate. * If you travel slowly (yes, EVEN IF you're driving at the speed limit!), pull over and allow traffic to pass. * Avoid unnecessary use of high beam headlights. * Use your horn sparingly. * Do not make obscene gestures at other drivers (EVEN IF you think they deserve it the next "obscene gesture" from the other driver may be a gun!) * Don't block passing lanes. * Remember to breathe. The Stressed Driver The stress of life's frustrations, pressures, and conflicts are impossible to avoid in this world. The more complex our world becomes, the more to which we must adapt. And high levels of adaptation always create high levels of stress. Stressed-out from the ever-increasing demands of our jobs, we then move onto stress-filled freeways, where the combination of the two cannot help but multiply the stress. As the tension mounts, judgment wavers; and reaction times increase. Stress and driving are a dangerous combination. Road Rage is a byproduct of stress. Delays, start-and-stop traffic, and rude, impatient drivers can all lead to feelings of helplessness. All drivers want to do is get to their destination, and it seems as if everything is conniving against them. They feel frustrated and helpless. Individuals stressed in this manner can lose control and assert themselves in an aggressive, violent manner. Remember this: All stress is self-imposed. Nothing is stressful unless we permit it to be. Driving can actually be used to help stress-reduction if a person knows what to do. Keep it Simple Stress increases when drivers place themselves in driving situations requiring constant adaptation, such as weaving in and out of traffic or following too closely. Always try to drive in a manner calculated to minimize your need to adjust and adapt. Use the "slow" lane. Keep your distance. You will get there. Drive with relaxation, not with tension. Have you ever seen drivers speeding while weaving in and out of traffic, driving as if they were trying to win a race? Then they pass you; and when you pull up to the next traffic light, these same drivers are sitting across from you, waiting for the same light to turn. What was the purpose? Rushing to beat a red light may save you one minute but may lose you or others a lifetime. Driving with haste and taking chances may save you a couple of minutes. But, remember, a dead person has no more minutes to save! Is the tension you put yourself under and the danger to which you subject yourself worth the few precious minutes you might save? Smell the Roses Rather than "fighting" the drive, try instead to enjoy it. Watch with nonchalant humor as other drivers try to kill themselves, rushing along "in battle" with the traffic. It's a war that the traffic always wins. Even if you save a couple of minutes, look at the price you may pay and the risk you take. Turn on some good music, listen to educational or motivational tapes, and use your driving time to relax, enjoy, and profit. Do not run with the herd; start your own parade instead. Stay in Your Center Stress is intensified by feelings of helplessness or impotence. Such things as worrying about traffic lights, the driving habits of others, or the amount of traffic on the road you share are all items for which you are helpless to control. Do not make yourself helpless. Accept the fact that other drivers will act irrationally. That is a statement about who they are, not about you. Focus on where your power is. Your power lies in your ability to control what you do, not what others do. So, instead, concentrate on being removed from the outside world and move into the inside world of peace and tranquillity. Stay in the "eye of the storm." When the hurricane is blowing at its fiercest, the inside center of the storm is calm and serene. Don't go outside, where you have no control. Stay inside in the "eye of the storm," where you have control. Stay in your "center." The Fatigued Driver Driving when fatigued can be fatal. Every year, hundreds of drivers fall asleep at the wheel, and many are killed in fatal accidents. We can only imagine how many more have accidents simply because of the slower reaction time and poor judgment associated with fatigue. Do you think those people who died in accidents because of fatigue thought they were too tired to drive? Most likely not. They probably thought they could stay awake long enough to arrive home. Although we will never really know their thoughts, it stands to reason that they must have thought that they could stay awake; for they chose to continue driving. Of course, in reality, they chose wrong: They could not stay awake; and for them, they never did arrive home. Do not overestimate your ability to respond to situations when you are fatigued. Roll down the window and turn up the radio. Stop and get some coffee. The best solution of all, of course, is to pull over and rest for a while. Better to get home later than not get home at all. Do not ignore fatigue; it can kill you and those you love! DEFENSIVE DRIVING A good tip is remembering that defensive driving begins before you start the vehicle. Always adjust the seat, mirrors, and safety belt before starting your car. You may have an accident if you try to adjust them while driving. Before you fasten your seat belt, adjust your seat so that you are high enough to see the road. If you are still too low, you should use a seat cushion. Adjust your rear and side mirrors before you start driving. If your vehicle has a day/night mirror, learn how to use it. The night setting reduces the headlight glare from cars behind you and helps you see better. Avoid Assumptions Never assume that you know what another driver is going to do. Always expect the unexpected. Just because a driver's turn signal is on does not mean he is going to turn. Have you ever seen someone with a turn signal on who never turned? If you perform an action based on your assumption; and the other driver does not do as you expected, will you be in danger? If the answer is yes, then wait to confirm what the other driver is going to do. Do not assume. When a wrong assumption could endanger you or others, never assume what other drivers will do until they actually start to do it. Not all assumptions are bad. So, if you want to assume something, assume that you will need to be alert to anything. Another valuable assumption is this: Assume that you are invisible to the other driver. Always drive as if the other driver cannot see you. Imagine that you want to make a turn, and you see an oncoming car. The car starts to slow down, so you assume that he has seen you. You begin to make your turn; however, he was not slowing down because he saw you. He just took his foot off the accelerator for a minute to change the station on his radio. Now he accelerates to regain his speed just as you are in the middle of the intersection. Always assume that you are invisible. Keep A Buffer Bumper In traffic, it is easy to get a "bumper focus." Your eyes are focused on the bumper in front of you, creating blind spots in viewing other vehicles. The only way to eliminate, or minimize, blind spots is to keep plenty of distance between you and the driver ahead -- a buffer bumper. In fact, always do your best to keep a buffer bumper all around your vehicle -- front, back, and sides. Keeping distance between you and other vehicles, a buffer zone, is like having a big bumper all around your vehicle. It can protect you from many accidents. Vehicles generate tremendous energy at high traffic speeds. When you have to react to an emergency, it is not easy to reverse that energy. What you need is time. Following at an appropriate distance between your car and the vehicle in front of you provides a buffer bumper that will help to give you that time. What do you do about tailgaters? When a tailgater crowds you, allow extra room between your car and the car ahead. That way, if you need to slow down, you can do so gradually. You do not want to have to brake suddenly when you are too close to the car in front; the result could be that your car would get smashed in the rear by the tailgater. Freeway tailgating is a given, and tailgate accidents involving multiple vehicles occur all too frequently. BRAKING DISTANCES Following too close is a critical factor in many accidents. Always keep that "buffer bumper" between you and the vehicle in front of you. Stopping your vehicle is a two-part job. Getting your foot on the brake is the first part. Stopping the vehicle is the second part. It takes time to get your foot on the brake when you see an emergency situation; and during that time, your vehicle is continuing forward. Here's something to memorize: braking distances By the time your foot hits the brake, your vehicle has traveled about as many feet forward as the number of miles per hour you are traveling. If you are traveling at 50 miles per hour, it will take about 50 feet just to put your foot on the brake. At 65 miles an hour, it will take about 65 feet just to get your foot on the brake, and so on. You need to keep a buffer bumper for protection. You will be more motivated to put the "buffer bumper" principle into effect once you realize what it takes to stop a moving vehicle when it is traveling at certain speeds. Of course, the stopping distance varies depending on the surface of the road, the condition of the brakes, and the skill of the driver in recognizing and reacting to hazards. AVERAGE BRAKING DISTANCES (in feet) Vehicle Speed Reaction Distance Stopping Distance Reaction + Stopping = Total Stopping Distance 10 MPH 11 FEET 5 FEET 16 FEET 20 MPH 22 FEET 20 FEET 42 FEET 30 MPH 33 FEET 45 FEET 78 FEET 40 MPH 44 FEET 80 FEET 124 FEET 50 MPH 55 FEET 125 FEET 180 FEET 60 MPH 66 FEET 180 FEET 246 FEET If we assume that the brakes are in good condition and the driver has at least normal recognition and reaction times, how much farther will the vehicle travel while braking to a stop from a speed of 40 mph than from 20 mph? You might think that it will be twice as far. Surprisingly (for non-physicists) it takes four times as far. And at 60 mph the distance is nine times as much! Think this through. The faster you travel the greater the stopping distance, and really not just greater, but much greater. What does this mean about the distance you should allow between your car and the vehicle ahead of you? It means that the faster you drive, the more space you need to allow for a safety cushion to provide for controlled braking in emergencies. Snow, ice, rain, or leaves on the roadway also increase braking distance. Icy roads can require up to five times the distance to stop as is required for dry, clean pavement. In fact it would take you one half of a mile to stop from a speed of 60 mph if you were foolish enough to be traveling that speed on an icy road. Braking distances on inclines also will vary considerably. Going uphill, the engine works harder; and sometimes the driver has to use a lower gear to take the strain off the engine. It takes much less time to stop a vehicle going up a hill because Mother Nature, in the form of gravity, is giving you a hand. That same Mother Nature, however, will not help you when you are going downhill. She will be giving you a push. As you already know, it is much more difficult to stop a vehicle when it is traveling down an incline, such as a hill. Vehicles tend to accelerate going downhill, so watch it. You must always travel at a speed allowing you complete control of your vehicle. It is a crucial consideration of your safety. Though you need to keep control of your vehicle, do not ride your brakes going downhill. Just as it is sometimes necessary to use a lower gear when going up a hill, it is also necessary at times to use a lower gear going down a hill. "Gearing down" takes the strain off the engine when going up, and it takes the strain off the brakes when going down. It is always preferable to "gear down" rather than to ride the brakes. The friction created by prolonged use of the brakes while descending a hill can cause the brakes to fail, easily resulting in a tragedy. The distance it will take you to stop depends on the road surface, your tires, and your vehicle's brakes. However, under the best conditions at highway speeds, it will still take you hundreds of feet to stop. With slippery pavement, bad tires, and so-so brakes...you better make sure your life insurance is paid up, or be a smart driver. Always keep a buffer bumper between your car and the vehicle ahead. You need to give yourself plenty of time to stop, slow, or take evasive action. By giving yourself space, you have time to Perceive, Predict, and Perform. . . .