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 "I
never saw him!" is the most common excuse heard after
a collision. Was the other vehicle invisible? Virtually all
collisions involve inattention on the part of one or both
drivers. Inattention can involve many things, some of which
are daydreaming, distractions, sleepiness, fatigue, "highway
hypnosis," talking, etc.
A moving vehicle develops thousands
of foot-pounds of energy. YOU as a driver have the responsibility
not to use that energy to injure or kill others, or damage
their property. Paying attention makes it possible for you
to see, recognize and avoid the hazards lurking on the road;
these are the three basic elements of defensive driving. The
primary attribute necessary for a safe driver is alertness,
and paying attention is the most important driving task because
it helps create the time you need to recognize hazards and
avoid a collision.
One statistic often
quoted is that most collisions happen within a short
distance from home. Why is this true? Since we mostly drive
in our own neighborhoods, the odds are we'll have most of
our mishaps there. Close to home we get more comfortable
and perhaps let our guard down (and the other guy does the
same thing); you've heard that "familiarity breeds
contempt?" Better yet, familiarity breeds inattention.
We don't often consider that serious or fatal injuries can
occur in low speed collisions.
I have a challenge for you. While
it is important for you to be alert and aware, it isn't an
easy task. The next time you drive, try concentrating solely
on the driving task. Think of nothing else. Then see how far
you get before your mind wanders. Many drivers won't even
get out of the parking lot! Seasoned drivers don't HAVE to
think about driving much. It's something we do automatically,
and our minds are free to wander. And our minds WANT to wander.
Have you ever driven somewhere and been so lost in thought
that you couldn't remember anything about the trip itself?
Is this a problem?
Is this a curable problem? Paying
attention can become a habit, but you have to work at it.
Make conscious, persistent choices NOT to eat while driving,
or whatever you do that takes your attention off where your
moving vehicle is pointed. Connect your mind to your eyes
and work at consciously analyzing what you see while you drive.
We call this "situational awareness." Driving is
the most dangerous thing most of us ever do. It deserves your
full attention. Mastery of this one habit can almost make
you bullet-proof. Not quite, but almost.
Rule
2: Don't Trust Nobody!>
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