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Weekly Tip March 1, 2000
Safer Drivers for Life - Tip Sheet
When you think green light you think "go" right? Well not so fast! As the old adage goes... "You must look before you leap." The problem with red-light runners is well documented. In fact, intersection’s claim about 90% of all reported vehicular crashes. Just remember, that green is just a color, not a guarantee. Repeat that mantra while you’re sitting there waiting for the red light to change. And when the light changes to green, simply look both ways before moving your vehicle. Keep in mind that the risk of death and serious injury are greater to the occupants of your vehicle when it is hit in a BROADSIDE CRASH.
Y-2K Protection. If and when there is a power shortage, remember that intersections with non-functional traffic signals automatically become 4-way stops. However, also keep in mind that not everyone will be aware of this fact.
Keep your eyes moving, and establish eye-contact with any driver approaching
your intersection.
Best way to deal with a tailgater. Aside from a James Bond fantasy, the very
best
way to cope with a person following to close is to "stay the course." This
advise
of course does not apply to situations where you are impeding the flow of
traffic.
It is essential that you establish more space between you and the vehicle
just
ahead of you. Even if that means reducing your speed a bit. Impatience is
the
most likely reason the tailgater is following you so close. If that is the
case, rest
assure that within 30 seconds you will be rid of them, as they rush ahead to
ride
the bumper of the next driver. There are other reasons why people tailgate.
Sometimes drivers are simply unaware of how to maintain a safe following
distance. And sadly enough, there are the pathetic few who are just plain
lonely.
Unfortunately, there’s very little you can do under those circumstances. So what is a "safe following distance?" Traffic safety professions generally agree that the easiest way to measure following distance is to count the number seconds that it take your vehicle to reach a stationary point passed by the vehicle ahead of you.
This is what you do:
Pick out a fixed point ahead of the vehicle in front of you. As that vehicle passes that fixed point begin counting (in a steady deliberate fashion) one thousand and one, one thousand and two, etc. If the front of your vehicle reaches that fixed point before you can count to one thousand and three, you are too close.
THIS IS CALLED THE 3-SECOND RULE. It will work at any speed. Now when the road surface is less favorable for effective braking, you should add another second or two. Never get caught running a RED-LIGHT again. We all complain about people running red lights, but honestly haven’t you been caught between light changes, and out of shear panic decided to just "go for it?" To the unprepared it will happen over and over. There’s any easy solution. When you see a traffic signal that has been green from the very first moment you saw it, or has been green for more than 20 seconds, think of the light as being "stale." When your vehicle comes within 100 feet (about the distance of four houses) place your foot above the brake for exactly a count of 2 seconds. If the light changes you’re prepared to act correctly, if the light does not change return your foot to the accelerator. Even if the light changes to yellow, chances are you are near enough to the intersection, and have sufficient momentum to clear the intersection well ahead of the light changing red. In any event, it would also be wise to observe the conditions at the approaching intersection as well as the area behind you.