Doesn’t anyone use
turn signals anymore? Cars zip in
and out of traffic lanes without warning. Speed limits, forget it! On the way to
visit the folks in Jersey, I noticed that traffic was moving along at 75 miles
per hour (mph) in the slow lane.
Talk about a culture shock.
After setting the cruise control for 65 mph, a semi loomed in my
rearview mirror. I was determined
not to let that intimidate me.
After a few minutes, the impatient driver did use a turn signal, moved
to the left lane, and passed me before moving one vehicle ahead. I thought, “Okay bud! That move is sure to get you to your
destination quicker.”
The adrenaline
rush began to settle when a black BMW attempted to zoom from the left lane,
which was beginning to back up, into mine. Apparently BMW’s (and many other
newer cars) don’t have blinkers.
When the driver noticed that my lane (right) was suddenly slowing and
that there was not enough room to pull in, he zipped back to the left lane,
narrowing missing a car moving forward.
I slammed the breaks and waited for the car behind me to turn my vehicle
into an accordion. Yep! The
adrenaline rush was back
Was driving always
this treacherous? Is it
because there are more cars on the roadways? Are more people in a hurry because traffic is heavier? What’s up with not using
blinkers? A guy on a cell
phone driving a truck pulled out in traffic from convenience store turning
left, cutting me off. He used no
blinker to indicate a turn.
Maybe I’m just
getting old? How the heck do much
older adults, whose reflexes are not so quick, get around? Maybe it is because I’ve lived a
slower life for the last nine months, or not? Whatever the reason, today’s drivers seem to be working hard
to make defensive driving more like an arena game. Perhaps weaving in and out of traffic without signaling and
riding someone’s rear to speed them up is the new normal.
I take some deep
breaths and try to focus on the road.
I work to maintain a constant speed. I watch the break lights of the cars in front of me and say
a silent prayer when I’m out of heavy traffic.
The most important
thing is that I don’t beep or make gestures to the offending driver. I learned that lesson the hard
way. Before sailing off into
the sunset, a man in a beat up truck cut in front of me. He gave me the one-fingered salute. I
shook my head and mouthed idiot. The angry man turned and followed me into a
parking lot where he called me a few names and threatened to pull me from the
car. Another driver who
witnessed the entire event intervened and came to my aid. I reported the incident to the
police.
According to Fox
News, over 40,000 people are killed in automobile accidents each year. Many of these accidents can be
prevented. Using common sense probably
gives one the most preventative means to avoid an accident. The list includes
driving sober, slowing down (which also conserves gas consumption), and
avoiding distractions such as cell phones and answering texts while
driving. Another word of
advice to prevent an accident is not to drive when drowsy. Pull off the road or give the wheel to
someone else. Bad weather events
such as fog, heavy rain, or snow is a good time to slow down and put distance
between you and the car ahead. If
you can, pull over or stay off the road entirely.
Following these tips
can help keep you safe on the road, but one must also remain attentive and aware
of other drivers. These are
the drivers who tailgate, refuse to signal, and pull out from stop signs or
lights. Scan ahead and keep an eye
open for unexpected moves from other drivers. Watch out for drivers talking on cell phones, or those
weaving in an out of traffic. Be
extra vigilant and slow down through construction zones. Look out for bicyclists and those on
motorcycles. Many organizations
such as AARP offer defensive driving courses. Consider taking one and get a discount off most auto insurance
policies. It’s a war zone out
there on those roads.
Most importantly,
wear a seatbelt to protect yourself and your loved ones in the event of an accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Association reports that more than half of all accident fatalities involve
drivers and passengers who were not wearing seatbelts. Seatbelts prevent one from being thrown
through a windshield or around the inside of a crashing car.
I suspect that as
traffic becomes heavier, roads more congested and drivers more stressed
accident ratios will increase. I
will wear my seatbelt, breathe deeply, keep my eye on the other driver, and
remember that I’m not traveling 6.5 knots this summer. As for the turtles, when I see one on a
Salem County road, I pull over and help move it along. There is no way that God’s critters
were created to race with cars.
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