A Grandpa's Driving Advice to His Grandchildren. . .




I’m 71 years old. I have been driving for over 50 years, and I have never had an accident, and I have never received a speeding ticket. I have grandsons who are or will soon be beginning to drive. I was thinking this morning on my way to work, how have I been able to drive all these years without incident?


1. I drive the speed limit. It’s easy to do. I hear people claim that driving the speed limit will get you run over in different areas of the country. I’ve driven in many metropolitan areas of the U.S. and Canada, and I’ve never had a problem. Excessive speed is a major contributing factor in many accidents. Yes you can drive faster than the speed limit without getting a ticket, but that doesn't make it legal, or good sense to do so.

2. I NEVER tailgate. I always want a generous interval between my car and the one ahead of me. I want plenty of time to react if something happens.

3. I always watch cars approaching on side streets. People make mistakes, they get distracted. Even where I clearly have the right-of-way, I watch them approach to make sure they stop.

4. I don’t over drive the conditions. The speed limit signs are for the best conditions. Snow, ice, fog, restricted visibility, rain all contribute to my driving slower than the posted limit. Every snowfall the number of accidents dramatically increase. Years ago I was on my way to Canada on I-69. It was heavily snowing. The road was covered with a good inch or two of fresh snow, and other people were still driving at the posted 70 m.p.h., not me. I slowed way down. There is no way that you can safely drive that fast on a snow covered road. A few miles ahead there was a 24 car pileup, and they closed the Interstate. . . all due to people driving too fast for the conditions.

5. I do not drive aggressively. In a construction zone, where two lanes merge down to one. People will often try to prevent cars from merging by getting as close to the car in front of them as possible, thereby blocking the merging driver. I don’t play that game. It’s no skin off my back to let them in. Yes, they should have merged earlier, but I gain nothing but one car length by trying to keep them out.

6. I slow down, and carefully watch when passing horse drawn Amish buggies. Horses are unpredictable, and may spook, or bolt without apparent provocation. I give them a wide berth, and am very watchful as I pass them by. . . Even if they are stopped on a side street waiting to cross the highway. I’ve had the experience where a buggy has bolted across the highway from a side road right in front of me without warning.

7. Do not text and drive. If I must respond to a text message, etc. I pull off the road, and attend to it. I do not text and drive.

Advice to my grandkids, and to anyone else. . . longtime or beginning drivers. . .

In my opinion many accidents are preventable by good defensive driving practices. Be aware. Be careful. It only takes one event to change your life forever. . .


Dave

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