As do many of my fellow Heartwarming authors, I enjoy traveling. Last year I wrote a blog about airports and how much I like them. Some comments were positive, others detailed travel nightmares. Lately I've been traveling more by car than plane, however. And according to statistics, so are a lot of other people. Apparently low gas prices have people choosing automobiles over planes and trains.
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One of my non-writing activities is teaching defensive driving. Writers hold a lot of conversations in their heads. Teaching helps remind me it's healthy to have actual conversations. This week I received my schedule for the summer and as usual started me thinking about my driving habits. I thought I'd share some of those thoughts with you.
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The good news is cars today are much safer than they used to be. After buying a new car last year, it took me a while to adjust to the differences between the old and the new. My favorite new technologies are blind spot monitoring and the backup camera. The lane departure warning system warns me sometimes to pull over and have a cup of coffee. Sometimes the warning goes off as I'm drinking a cup of coffee. Occasionally there's a donut with that coffee. As with most technology, it takes time and practice to adjust.
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The bad news is there is so much to distract from our task of paying attention to the road. Inside and outside the car.
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Everyone knows distracted driving is one of the biggest problems on the road. The obvious and the one most people think of is the use of the cell phone while driving. The act of sending a text causes a driver to take her eyes off the road for about five seconds, the length of a football field if traveling at 55 mph. Others include changing the radio station, checking GPS, and even drinking that cup of coffee. I like coffee on an early morning trip and I also like to listen to books on tape if I'm driving by myself. I tell my students to use their best judgement. If you're in the city, rush hour traffic, the safest thing is to eliminate every distraction possible.
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A lot of accidents happen at intersections, especially for older drivers. A suggestion is to find an intersection with a traffic light. Exits at malls, for example, offer both types. So why not choose the exit that controls the traffic for you?
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Last week, on a surprisingly balmy day for central Pennsylvania, I looked in my rear view mirror and spied a motorcyclist. We don't often expect to see motorcycles or bicycles out and about in February. Many states require at least three feet of distance when you pass a bicyclist on the road. Pennsylvania law requires four feet.
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Most of us have been driving since we were sixteen and the act of getting in the car and pulling out onto the highway is second nature. But next time you prepare for a trip, short or long, take care of the possible distractions before you put the car in drive. Have a safe trip!
As always, enjoy the read. Just not while you're behind the wheel!
T.R.
www.trmcclure.com
✈
One of my non-writing activities is teaching defensive driving. Writers hold a lot of conversations in their heads. Teaching helps remind me it's healthy to have actual conversations. This week I received my schedule for the summer and as usual started me thinking about my driving habits. I thought I'd share some of those thoughts with you.
🚗
The good news is cars today are much safer than they used to be. After buying a new car last year, it took me a while to adjust to the differences between the old and the new. My favorite new technologies are blind spot monitoring and the backup camera. The lane departure warning system warns me sometimes to pull over and have a cup of coffee. Sometimes the warning goes off as I'm drinking a cup of coffee. Occasionally there's a donut with that coffee. As with most technology, it takes time and practice to adjust.
⛾
The bad news is there is so much to distract from our task of paying attention to the road. Inside and outside the car.
🚗
Everyone knows distracted driving is one of the biggest problems on the road. The obvious and the one most people think of is the use of the cell phone while driving. The act of sending a text causes a driver to take her eyes off the road for about five seconds, the length of a football field if traveling at 55 mph. Others include changing the radio station, checking GPS, and even drinking that cup of coffee. I like coffee on an early morning trip and I also like to listen to books on tape if I'm driving by myself. I tell my students to use their best judgement. If you're in the city, rush hour traffic, the safest thing is to eliminate every distraction possible.
🚗
A lot of accidents happen at intersections, especially for older drivers. A suggestion is to find an intersection with a traffic light. Exits at malls, for example, offer both types. So why not choose the exit that controls the traffic for you?
🚦
Last week, on a surprisingly balmy day for central Pennsylvania, I looked in my rear view mirror and spied a motorcyclist. We don't often expect to see motorcycles or bicycles out and about in February. Many states require at least three feet of distance when you pass a bicyclist on the road. Pennsylvania law requires four feet.
🏍
Most of us have been driving since we were sixteen and the act of getting in the car and pulling out onto the highway is second nature. But next time you prepare for a trip, short or long, take care of the possible distractions before you put the car in drive. Have a safe trip!
As always, enjoy the read. Just not while you're behind the wheel!
T.R.
www.trmcclure.com
When my son and I started riding motorcycles, we had to take a course, and my husband insisted we read a particular book. It points out that our brains can't process everything that our eyes see, and often, motorcycles get filtered out. I was rear ended by someone who didn't see me on a bike (bike fell on ankle, ankle had to be pinned, only time I've been hurt in an accident). I don't ride anymore, but just to add, the thing that will kill most motorcyclists: when you're turning left, and think the intersection is clear, double check for a bike - that's the worst time to be distracted!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Kim. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteT.R., as I have been so many times since I joined this Heartwarming club, I’m in awe of the unexpected and unusual talents of our members! I wish you were closer so I could send my elder daughter to you for lessons. She wants to get her licence but is very nervous driving and has dropped out of most of her driving courses. Since we live in a big city, she can get by on transit but still. I’m assuming you’ve used this expertise for a heroine or hero? Thanks for this very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteSeems like I have a lot of auto accidents in my stories! I think learning to drive in a big city would be hard.
DeleteThanks for this heads up. We can all use a reminder to focus on our driving. My car was recently hit at an intersection by someone in the next lane whose car suddenly veered into mine. Apparently she didn't check her blind spot!
ReplyDeleteThe new cars have lights in the side view mirrors. Big help! Glad you're okay.
DeleteI have a new car and one of the things I find most distracting is that the blind spot is huge, much larger than older cars. I'll change lanes and they'll be a car on my butt that I never saw. I check all the mirrors and turn around to look. It has made me more cautious about changing lanes.
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the top five accidents types for older drivers. I guess as we get older it's harder to turn and look! Good that you still do. I found visibility isn't as good in my new car, too.
DeleteDespite all the doo-dads, nothing makes up for common sense. Last year when my daughter was learning to drive, I didn't put snow tires on the vehicle because I didn't want her to become overconfident. This year, now that she's driving every day to school, I slapped them on, but she's still a sensible driver. Best!
ReplyDeleteI try to take the updated day-long driving course with AARP every couple of years. It gives a break on your car insurance and I always think it reminds me of some things you've mentioned. I have the backup camera, but not the blind spot. I'd like that. Thanks for the blog post.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. I love my backkup camera! Wish we had them on the older cars we still drive. One place I have to be extra careful is coming out of our neighborhood and turning right. It's easy to watch to the left, waiting for a break in traffic, and forget to look right to check for bicycles crossing on the bike trail.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere the thing about motorcycles is our mind doesn't see them as "motor" cycles but more as bicycles. So at an intersection or when we're turning in front of one, we think it's going slower than it actually is. I've had several friends with motorcycles who had cars either pull out in front of them or turn in front of them. And as for bicycles--most motorist don't even see me when I'm on one.
ReplyDeleteOur family motto for bike riding is "Everyone is out to kill you." The son who mostly learned to drive on the motorbike is the most cautious driver in the family.
DeleteThanks for the great tips. Our family is pretty cautious when it comes to driving ever since my son was in a serious car accident. He wasn't driving, but he was the only one with his seatbelt on. The driver looked down at his phone and lost control. One of his friends was killed and the other 3 boys were in the hospital for a long time. It was over 5 years ago, but it's a lesson we've never forgotten.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame and thank God your son had his seatbelt on.
DeleteA few years ago, my life was saved by my stopping at the white line at the stoplight, instead of pulling forward to the intersection. I was waiting to turn left when a car suddenly turned to the right in front of me. I don't know if they were drinking or just going too fast in the snow, but they overshot the turn. The car missed mine by less than a foot and then swerved over onto the sidewalk to the left of me. They regained control then and continued. I was very lucky. I always stop at the white line to let large vehicles have room to make their wide turns. The intersection I was stopped at was used by ambulances going to the ER entrance just a few feet away.
ReplyDeleteSometimes near misses are blessings in disguise because we never forget and are more careful.
ReplyDeleteI want one of those blind spot things! I nearly ran someone right over the other day--and I had a grandkid in the car. Sobering and scary. I do love my backup mirror!
ReplyDelete