Dangerous Driving
There are so many dangerous things people do while driving that the carnage on our roads is evidence of their irresponsibility. Dangerous driving is so fatally frequent that it seems we have become apathetic and accept it as normal. Why else would such levels grow more and more each year? It is not unusual to use road fatalities as a comparison when measuring the dangers of any other high risk activity.
Without a doubt the most dangerous thing people do while driving is to speed. Drivers do not realize that the faster you go the less control you have of a vehicle. In a split second the smallest mistake made when speeding can have devastating consequences and a life or death outcome. Any object hit at high speed is enough to throw a vehicle totally off its original path and the surprise this can have on a driver can cause panic, shock and loss of control.
Drinking under the influence of alcohol is another dangerous driving habit that too many people seem to do too often. A person who has had too much alcohol can hardly sit without slumping, speak without slurring or stand without slanting, let alone drive while drinking. To be in proper control of a vehicle you need to be alert, aware and alcohol free. A vehicle is too much of a deadly weapon not to have full control of.
The use of mobile phones while driving has become so frequent a cause of accidents that fines can be imposed if caught talking on one. A far worse activity is text messaging while trying to drive. Unless you have three hands and just as many eyes you cannot drive safely. Driving needs careful attention and any distraction can be fatal. Eyes should be on the road and both hands should be on the steering wheel for better control of any vehicle.
The sole purpose of rear vision, and side mirrors are for viewing traffic behind and either side of your car. While driving these important safety installations should not be used to apply makeup, check if your hair is out of place or to see if you are still good looking. It could be a fatal mistake when wanting to overtake, then checking if it’s safe to do so in your rear vision mirror, you are staring back at yourself.
Eating and drinking is another of the most dangerous things people do while driving. Whether it is a small piece of candy or an up-sized hamburger, anything that prevents both hands from being on a steering wheel is a hazard on the roads. Hot beverages are the worst culprits simply for the fact their heat makes them hard to hold. If a hot coffee were to spill on a driver when he is in the middle of turning or overtaking, it doesn’t take much imagination as to the outcome.
Vehicle manufacturers are constantly updating safety devices on our vehicles to keep us from harm, but it is evident that driver education is the only solution. There is far too much carnage on our roads to want to add to the slaughter.
