In the Drivers Seat

One of the modern miracles we enjoy is the ability to travel in cars on an organized road system. It is amazing to me that I can leave my house in southeast Idaho and drive to Saint George, Utah and be there in eight and a half hours. Despite the modern miracle of cars and smooth roads, the cars are still operated by humans, who sometimes make poor decisions in how they operate their vehicles. The same speed a vehicle is capable of to get us to our destinations so quickly is the same speed that can seriously injure or even take the life of another person. This reality is why it is everyone’s responsibility, including my responsibility, to operate a vehicle safely.

Safe driving is more that just not driving over the speed limit. Safe driving is an overall awareness of driving conditions, the weather, other drivers, my own alertness, and how I eliminate distractions. My dad is a lawyer who does real estate and water rights work but has had an opportunity to help close family friends deal with the aftermath of car accidents that were not their fault. The result of others’ unsafe driving led to ongoing medical treatment, pain, emotional impacts, and property damage.

With this family the first accident involved the mom and oldest daughter. They were driving on a local county road and came to an intersection that leads to a new high school that I attend, Thunder Ridge High School. A car with two teenage boys, who were 19 and 20 years old, pulled up to the main entrance intersection, blew out smoke from a vaping pipe, and then pulled out right in front of them. Despite the mom’s attempts to stop her vehicle there was no way to avoid the crash. After the collision, the other car landed in an irrigation canal on its side and our friends’ small SUV was damaged to the point that it was a total loss. The young drivers involved in this accident were cited by the police and determined to be at fault.

Both the mom and daughter suffered from whiplash and head and neck pain. The mom already would occasionally have migraines, but after the accident they became more frequent and more intense. To find some relief, she would take medication and would have pain injections (shots) on her face and neck for over a year after the accident. The daughter also had frequent headaches but fortunately did not have as severe whiplash as the mom had. As for their SUV, which they liked, the insurance payment for the total loss wasn’t enough to find a replacement SUV like the one involved in the crash.

Fast forward five months. The same daughter and her dad were traveling on Interstate 15 near Idaho Falls. It had recently snowed, and the roads were slick. They were driving in the vehicle that they had purchased with the money from the first accident. All the other drivers were carefully driving on the slick roads, except one. Our friends explained that it all happened so fast, but a vehicle driving way too fast for the slick conditions lost control right next to our friends’ vehicle. The car spun out of control and hit the back of our friend’s car causing it to sping off the road where it rolled over and came to rest on its side. For a second time, their car was totaled. But more concerning, both the dad and the daughter suffered cuts, bumps, and bruises and whiplash from the accidently. Among the injures the dad suffered was a shoulder injury. Eventually he had to have surgery on his rotator cuff. And, even worse, the daughter suffered the same injuries she had originally suffered only months ago. Just like a football player that suffers concussions in a short period of time, the second accident aggravated and enhanced the injuries from the first accident for the oldest daughter. Not only did she have to deal with headaches again, but the parents believe that her emotions and personality were affected negatively after the second accident. She began having mood swings and behavioral issues and eventually ended up in the hospital for treatment. The drivers that caused the second accident were cited by the police for being at fault.

Even though other drivers were found at fault in both accidents, our friends ended up in legal disputes with them over damages from the accidents for medical expenses, ongoing disagreement, and property damage. Lawsuits were filed in both cases. In both cases our friends used a personal injury lawyer. Unfortunately, they did not have a positive experience. Eventually my dad took over the first case and was able to get it resolved before the daughter was scheduled to participate in a deposition, which would have caused her more stress. The second accident was resolved by the original lawyer, but only after legal wrangling that lasted four years. The legal process took way too long and caused stress to this family.

Car accidents happen far more often than they should. Accidents can result from our own errors and can come from other peoples’ mistakes. Therefore, we should educate others about the dangers of driving and ways to prevent accidents from occurring. The United States Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that approximately 13 car accidents occur somewhere in the United States every 60 seconds. Everyone should do their part to practice safe driving to prevent harming yourself or others in car accident. Minimizing distractions while operating a vehicle is an excellent way to prevent accidents. Have situational awareness while driving. Be aware of your surroundings and external circumstances. Each of these is points is discussed below.

MINIMIZING DISTRACTIONS

Minimizing distractions is critical to practice safe driving and is probably the easiest to control. Distracted driving causes millions of accidents every year. The first accident our friends were in was caused by a distracted driver who was vaping. Putting your phone away and reserving your phone for emergency use only while in the car can prevent distractions while driving. Do not check social media while driving as it is unnecessary and unsafe. One of my best friends was recently rear-ended because the man behind her saw that the light was green but didn’t slow down because he was on his phone. He ran into her vehicle with his. She suffered whiplash and back problems. It is also important to avoid eating and drinking while operating a vehicle. It is critical to keep eyes on the road and keep two hands on the steering wheel and be sure that everyone wears a seatbelt.

SITUATIONAL AWARNESS

Being aware of the situations and objects around you can decrease the chances for a car accident. It is important to know where you are driving and the driving laws in the town you are in, including whether the town is a “hands-free” town where you cannot talk on your cell phone unless it is with a hands-free device like Bluetooth. Having situational awareness can keep you and others safe. Be aware as you approach intersections, like four-way stops and stoplights, to make sure that others are not approaching at a high rate of speed. It is also important to give yourself an abundance of time to properly slow down and never run a red light. Observe the cars around you and watch for sudden stops or swerves made by other vehicles. Obey traffic signs, make full stops at stop signs, and educate yourself on what traffic signs mean. It is also critical to be aware of your body conditions. Never operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, ever. Similarly, drowsy driving is unsafe. Be sure to drive only after you are well rested. Drowsy driving causes more accidents than drunk driving. Pull over if you are tired or switch drivers.

BEING AWARE OF SURROUNDINGS/EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Being aware of your surroundings can decrease your chances of getting in a car accident as well. Pay attention to weather conditions closely and adjust how you drive accordingly to those conditions. Rain and fog can cause visibility issues and hydroplaning. Wear sunglasses to avoid glares causes by the sun. Always drive slower when there are icy and snowy conditions because a car can lose control in these conditions, as our family friends experienced. Be aware of the conditions of other drivers. Never tailgate another car. If a vehicle is swerving or driving erratically around you, keep your distance. Stay focused when driving through construction zones. If you are driving in a new place, look at a map beforehand to be familiar with where you are going. Following these tips means you won’t have to look at the map while operating a vehicle and you will already have some knowledge of the area surrounding you.

CONCLUSION

Practicing safe driving is necessary in a world where modern transportation used every day. Minimizing distractions while operating a vehicle is critical to prevent accidents. Have situational awareness while driving and know where you are driving. Never operate a vehicle under the influence or while sleep deprived. Be aware of your surroundings and external circumstances. Notice construction zones, school zones, and traffic signs. Practicing these things will prevent harm to yourself and others because it will minimize the chances for a car accident.

The main things I can control while driving is my own actions. What I cannot control are the ultimate consequences of what may occur if I cause an accident because of my unsafe driving. There would have been no way to know the behavioral affects or medical injures that resulted in our friends’ injuries. We cannot control the consequences of our actions. That is why it is so important to drive safely and use the remarkable technology that we use with our modern cars for the primary purpose they were intended, which is to get us efficiently and quickly to the places we want to go. This remarkable technology should not be used to cause pain and suffering to others.