Precision driving: New emphasis on good old seatbelts
In the mid 1960s, seat belts became standard equipment in American autos. Over the 40-some years since, they’ve proven their purpose of increased occupant safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in concert with the 50 states, has campaigned tirelessly to educate drivers and passengers to buckle up. Their efforts have successfully achieved a current national compliance rate of 82 percent.
The recent “Click it or Ticket” campaign carried out in the state of Washington was actually part of the NHTSA national effort, and was mirrored across the country May 21 through June 3. This year, nighttime violators were targeted, and with good reason — your chance of being in a fatal auto accident are three times higher at night than during the day.
The number of annual traffic deaths in America is a national tragedy. Last year, deaths were down, but insignificantly. In 2005, the count was 43,443, and the tally in 2006 was 43,300. And sadly, according to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters, over half of passenger vehicle occupants killed died unbuckled.
It would save lives, and costs to society, if the remaining 18 percent of drivers/riders would use their safety belt systems. Besides the death and devastation, current estimates show that highway crashes cost society $230.6 billion per year, about $820 per person.
Numbers and statistics help education attempts, but reality is a powerful reminder. The NHTSA hopes that’s the case regarding New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine’s auto accident earlier this year. Since the mishap, which placed Corzine squarely at death’s door, there has been scads of media coverage exposing his failure to be buckled up. As a result, Gov. Corzine paid all costs associated with the accident, and recently created public service ads for television and radio.
Transportation Secretary Peters hopes that the damage and devastation caused to Corzine will be evident from his pictures and words, and that his crash will inspire others to buckle up. In his ads, Corzine recounts his April 12 accident, which left him critically injured, with 15 broken bones, in eight days of intensive care, breathing only through a ventilator. He said, “It took an outstanding team of doctors and a series of miracles to save my life, when all I needed was a seat belt.” And he closed with, “I have to live with my mistake — you don’t — buckle up.” Harsh reality.
Readers’ Passing Fancies
I love it when I strike a driving nerve — something that you identify with in your everyday driving. Such is the case for the subject of encountering a loaded pickup on a two-laner.
A while ago, I described driving a pickup loaded versus unloaded on the same road at the same speed. In the loaded state, drivers tailgated and were anxious to pass, and when unloaded, drivers maintained distance and were content to follow.
As I surmised, some readers, like S.L. (and honestly, myself) do everything possible to get quickly around the loaded rig, as they just “know” that a slowdown is imminent. Our perception tells us that in the next sweeping turn, or going up the next grade, the vehicle will slow down. Even though those slowdowns may never take place (as they did not when my truck was loaded) prior experiences motivate us to pass.
B.D. admits it is second nature, or habit, to pass cargo-laden vehicles for fear of cargo becoming “60-mph projectiles” aimed at his vehicle. I pay special attention to loads ahead of me while on my motorcycle for the same reasons, B.D. Drivers please — restrain your cargo during this go-to-the-dump season.
The No. 1 excuse given for passing a loaded pickup, however, was visibility — or lack of it.
J.N. explains, “I personally do not automatically perceive a loaded truck as being slow… many have passed me while I am doing the speed limit and they are hauling a load … it’s the ability to see oncoming traffic that I want.” She feels more in control of her destiny when a truck is not blocking her view. The same sentiment was expressed by D.N, when he wrote, “I personally often want to pass vision-obstructing trucks whether going slow or fast just so that I can see what’s up ahead.” And reader/driver D.G. admits, “I know I’d pass you rather than remain behind if you prevented me from seeing what was happening upstream.”
I agree that following vehicles that you can’t see around is frustrating, and I often attempt to get past these obstacles to proper vision. It’s not always justified to exceed the speed limit just to be free of them, but I think most of us have done so. At times, though, one must maintain a proper distance from these “blockers,” and trust them to be alertly watching the roadway ahead. An ill-advised, maniacal pass (as some were that went by me) may be even more dangerous than your partially obstructed view ahead.