Hi drivers!
My name is John A. This is my first blog on this subject. I believe that I am qualified to talk about this subject based on several facts. First, I have been driving for over 55 years. Second, I have driven to numerous cities in the United States during that time-the west coast, middle america and all over the east coast. Third, I have driven many different types of vehicles which include cars, (including limousines), buses, motorcycles, light trucks and, although not pertinent to this subject matter, flown airplanes, both personally and in an official capacity for a company. And fourth, I have had only 1 major accident in all that time that was my fault at the age of 18 (nobody got hurt). During these many years of driving I have noticed certain characteristics that drivers in this country for the most part continue to do to their and everyone else's detriment.
The main reason I decided to write this blog is not to castigate anyone in particular. I want to write these blogs simply for one reason: to save lives. I believe there are certain engrained habits that we all have (and I include myself in this overall assessment) that can lead to destruction of property, injury and in many cases, death. And I would like the public to become more involved in discussing these characteristics and try to come up with solutions we can all agree on. Our safety and the safety of our children can depend on it.
In 2012, the last year we have statistics for this, over 33,000 people died in the United States while in an automobile.
Statistics show that this number has gone up 2.6% since 2011! This, in spite of the fact that we now have seat belts, several airbags in various parts of the car and major advancements in the efficiency of our brakes and the steering in our vehicles. ( I realize that lately the airbag companies have been accused of causing some horrific deaths but nonetheless, overall, airbags have saved innumerable lives). In the late 60s and early 70s we experienced the most deaths in this regard in the US (over 50,000 per year) but our cars weren't as well equipped to prevent death. Also, our roads weren't as well designed as they are today. Therefore we, as a nation, should only conclude that other factors other than the car itself is at fault. I would like to go over these other factors over the next few blogs based on my personal observations. And I, of course, welcome any comments or observations from anyone, whether they be 18 wheelers, motorcyclists, bus drivers or your good old sedan driver going to work every day.
Recently, I had occasion to drive from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Long Island in New York and after a few weeks, from Long Island down to Florida to visit my kids. And then I drove back up from Florida back to my home on Long Island. I want to talk about these trips first since they are so recent and naturally still very much on my mind.
The first things I want to discuss is speed. Speed, in and of itself, is not, in my estimation, a major reason for accidents or death. If you are driving on a major highway and there are no cars near you, your tires are good, and you have dry pavement, you can drive at or above the posted speed limit all day long, without a problem (except for perhaps a ticket). It's only when you have one of those other factors involved that drivers tend to not realize what they are dealing with. If any one of those three factors show up that's when problems arise. Of the three factors I've mentioned, being too close to other cars is the main thing that most drivers get involved with and where most of the accidents occur. Why drivers tend to get so close to other cars when they drive has numerous causes.
The first reason is naturally traffic and traffic jams. But I contend that once we're in the jam very few deaths occur. Sure there are some fender benders, people get all bent out of shape over it and it costs some money to fix, but we're not driving that fast at that point to cause too many deaths.
But a major cause of death on the highway has to do with ego. I believe that when we are in our cars we are not individuals anymore. Very rarely do we see people's faces when we are driving. We only see other cars. Therefore we are invisible and as such, we tend to act differently than when people can see us and account for us. So when people become invisible to others, and they are in command of something that can have 200, 300 or more horsepower at their command, they tend to act irrationally. In a word they become children again.
When we get in our cars to go to the store, go to work or go on vacation we don't really think that we are going to do something dangerous. Since we have been doing the same thing, more or less, for many years, without having any problems, we become used to acting in a dangerous manner. But-here is something to always remember- once we go over 25 miles per hour in a vehicle that weighs over 2000 pounds we become dangerous and we must remain extremely aware of that fact.
On the other hand, why is it that we are in such a hurry to get where we are going? Again, I believe ego has a role in this. For some reason, the child in us boils over when we are behind the wheel and are invisible; we have a problem seeing someone driving faster than us and passing us by. As I've said I've driven in many parts of the country and it seems to be a universal trait that we have. I've seen it a million times (well maybe not that many). Cars traveling at normal speeds within the posted speed limit suddenly see a few cars in the left lane drive right up behind a car and force it into the center lane of a major highway. Three or four cars zip by the cars driving normally. And then shortly thereafter the race is on! One after another car pushes into the left lane and starts speeding after the first three. Before you know it everyone is driving over the speed limit by many miles per hour.
Let's take another example. The speed limit is 65 mph which everyone is doing. Fine so far. Personally I leave a lot of room between my car and the car in front of me, maybe an extra 5 feet depending on speed and road condition. Invariably, if I'm in the left or center lane, a car will get in front of me taking up that space that I personally require for safety. So I slow down a bit to give myself that extra room. But then the driver behind me gets annoyed and goes around me (and often goes in front of me). I would like to know why is everyone so much in a hurry and lack the patience needed to remain safe? I understand that people have to get to work on time or deliver things by a certain time. Why not give yourself an extra 5 or 10 minutes in the morning to avoid being unsafe?
One last example on this post. It's snowing outside. The weatherman says that it will snow all day today. The plows still haven't come thru. How many people have the common sense to slow down to a crawl? If you read the statistics at all, they're telling you that if you're doing more than 10-15 mph you're going to slide into something or someone. Yet there are some people out there who don't believe in the law of physics. And it seems to be catching. One guy (or gal) will fly by at 50 and a few others think its safe to do so cause they see this one guy doing it. I shake my head in disbelief.
I will be posting additional stories about my driving every Saturday from now on. I want to bring up other questions and problems such as: is more police needed to protect us from those drivers who are a menace by driving 10 to 20 mph faster than the rest of us while changing lanes incessantly? And how about the question of those drivers who come up behind you doing 80 or 90 mph when you're in the left lane doing the speed limit on a highway? Or, conversely, why can't drivers who are poking along at 50 mph in the left lane not feel the urgency to move to the right lane on a major highway? Also, I want to talk about the latest thing that many people do: texting and driving.
Please feel free to comment on today's post. I will respond on the next post and can go into detail with my reasons why I believe you are correct in your assessment of the problem or not and will use your name if you desire. I am most familiar with what goes on daily between Long Island and New York City during rush hour but can talk about other areas such as New Jersey or Connecticut just as well.
John A
