As I noted in a prior article, the Idaho Department of Transportation cited that a motorcyclist is injured in a motorcycle accident every 17.0 hours. The number of motorcyclists that were killed in a motor vehicle crash increased from 17 in 2012 to 22 in 2012. Approximately 48% of all fatal crashes involved more than just the motorcycle and 35% of the fatal motor vehicle crashes involved an impaired driver.
Spring has sprung and there are more motorcycle enthusiasts out driving now that the weather has turned from a blustery winter to spring. So here are 6 driving tips to help reduce the number of motor vehicle collisions in Idaho.
As drivers, we need to minimize the distractions we have in the vehicle while driving. That means avoiding the use of cell phones and texting while driving. If a call or text is that important to make or receive, pull over to make or take the call. Texting is illegal in Idaho while driving while operating a cell phone is not.
2) Turn off other electronics such as G.P.S. and/or mapping devices while driving.
That sounds like we are defeating the purpose for having these devices in the first place. But it's important that as drivers we keep our eyes open and focused on the road while we are driving. These devices only increase the risk of an accident by adding another distraction while we are driving
3) Avoid eating and drinking while driving.
We live in a busy society. We tend to "eat and run" to save time when we are going from Point A to Point B. Who of us have not been guilty of buying a meal at a drive through only to reach into the bag while we are driving to grab a sandwich or a french fry out of the bag as we drive down the road? The problem is that when we are driving and eating, we take our eyes off the road for a second or two thereby decreasing our ability to respond to a hazard.
We've all heard that speed kills. I was driving down West State Street in Boise yesterday. Traffic was backed up in the right lane, and I was traveling in the left lane on my way back to the office from lunch. A "Good Samaritan" left enough space between he and the vehicle in front of him to let another driver waiting to come onto the street from a parking lot into traffic. However, the other driver gunned into my lane instead of creeping into it to make sure it was safe to enter the lane. Luckily, I saw his car coming into my lane, and I was able to hit my brakes in time to avoid a collision. However, the other driver was looking to his right instead of looking to his left when he entered the lane so he was unable to identify to identify the threat (my vehicle) approaching as he bolted into my lane. Fortunately, I was able to slam on my brakes just in time to avoid what could have been a horrible consequence to the other driver's impatience. Had I been looking at the electronics in my car at the time he pulled out, certain injury or death could have incurred.
I know this sounds trite, but often I see vehicles approaching an intersection and then they begin to drive aggressively when they see the light change from green to yellow in order to "beat the light" before it turns to red. This type of action only increases the risk of an accident.
Avoid aggressive driving and aggressive drivers. Most, if not all, of us have seen individuals get exercised over someone else's driving. They want to drive up to and/or beside another driver to give him or her a piece of our mind or "flip them the bird" but all that venting does is enhance the risk of an accident. We need to keep our focus on the road in front of us and not get exercised when someone's emotions are running high or out of control. We can't control others, but we can control ourselves.
Accidents don't just happen. The overwhelming majority of collisions are the consequence of the choices and decisions of one or more drivers involved in a crash. When a driver deviates from the practices associated with being a reasonably prudent driver, liability may occur when that deviation proximately causes death or injury to another.
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