I love my title, No More Traffic Deaths. Actually, it is not the title I love. I love the result my title describes, no more traffic deaths. Safe driving is something I think about and work on every day.
If we combine all the elements of my road experience beginning in 1959, my driving profile includes 7 traffic tickets accumulated in my youth, 8 vehicle collisions (4 not-at-fault civilian crashes, 1 at-fault civilian crash, 1 at-fault law enforcement crash & 2 not-at-fault law enforcement crashes), 23 years of traffic enforcement, 23 years of collision investigation including fatal vehicle collisions and lastly several years as a Washington State Certified driving instructor for 911 Driving Schools.
Based on my experience, training and road lessons, I feel most credible when I state that most Americans are generally, at best, mediocre drivers. While you may not like my opinion; like it or not, I am absolutely right about this. Most Americans are sloppy drivers. Making this even more scary is the fact that even excellent drivers, including me, make driving mistakes.
If you wish to determine if you or someone you love (teenagers) are a poor driver, mediocre driver or an excellent driver, I challenge you to give me a ride in your motor car. During the drive I will perform what is called “commentary driving”. Commentary driving is a moving narrative on everything the driver is doing right and wrong.
Cost? One cappuccino at a local coffee shop of my choice where we can debrief after the drive.
Here is the deal straight from Uncle Bob’s Defensive Driving System. “If ALL drivers would do just five things, no one would ever die in a traffic crash.”
- Pay Attention.
- Don’t Speed.
- Use the Two-Second Rule. Even better, use the 3 or 4 second rule.
- Don’t drive impaired.
- Buy and use safety equipment.
If you wish to avoid being killed or killing someone in a vehicle collision, give some serious thought to Uncle Bob’s five things.
