With
this article, I've written 70 rules of defensive driving.
I'm certain we could come up with a few more if we thought
about it, but we've covered all the main concepts and more,
from general to specific. In Rule 5, I said that if ALL drivers
would do just four things, no one would ever die in a traffic
crash. Please read on, and see if you don't agree (but I'm
going to add a fifth…)
1. Pay attention. The number one over-arching
cause of traffic collisions is inattention and distraction.
Almost every collision involves one or both of these two related
errors. When I'm behind the wheel, driving is my number one
task. It is my responsibility to keep my ton of metal, rubber
and glass pointed safely down the road without hitting you
or your property. I am not honoring that responsibility when
I'm daydreaming, eating a burger, or chatting away on my cell
phone. I don't have the right to endanger you. Paying attention
is the first and most important way I can shoulder that critical
responsibility.
2. Don't speed. Speeders like to say that
speeding doesn't "cause" collisions. That's rubbish.
Speeding (driving at a speed higher than is safe for conditions)
leaves you with less reaction time and distance than you may
need to avoid a crash. An honest, intelligent person has to
come to the conclusion that the cause of such a crash is the
excessive speed. Speed also increases the risk of serious
injury in a crash. "Speed not reasonable and prudent"
is the most common measurable element in traffic collisions.
3. Use the Two-Second Rule. About 40% of all collisions
are rear-end collisions. Avoid them by maintaining your following
distance. This rule is so basic, and yet it is one of the
most ignored. Also keep in mind that two seconds is the minimum
-- three or four is better. Stretch it out when you can, because
sometimes two seconds isn't enough. Don't believe for a second
you can't use this technique in heavy traffic; you can, and
that's when it is most important.
4. Don't drive impaired. Wait at least
two hours for each drink before you drive. Staying
on top of the driving task means being 100% there to do the
job. You need all your skills and faculties for driving. Even
small amounts of alcohol impair the most important skills
you need to drive safely. Studies have proven that impairment
starts with alcohol concentrations as low as .03% or.04% --
about half of the "legal limit" in most states,
and the first thing affected is your judgment. Not surprisingly,
studies have linked impaired driving to increased incidences
of reckless driving. Typically, about 30% to 50% of all collisions
have driver impairment as a factor, and fatality is more likely
in alcohol-related crashes.
5. Buy and use safety equipment. Automotive
safety engineering has a come a long way. Today's automobile
is the safest vehicle ever produced for ground transportation.
Take advantage of its safety features! Buy ABS brakes, traction-control
systems, & air bags. Wear your safety belts. The use of
safety belts alone typically cuts the rate of injury and death
in traffic collisions by about 50%.
Remember these five key defensive driving
rules, and chances are excellent you'll live to a ripe
old age. And that's good, because I'll need someone to play
checkers with me down at the Old Folks' Home!
See you on the Road!
<Rule
69: Choose Your Route for Safety!
Index
to Uncle Bob's Rules (all 70 of them!)
