subject: Common Driving Errors [print this page] She was driving on a highway during rush hour! If anything, I was actually endangering myself by sitting there and watching her do what she was doing.
When you are behind the wheel of a vehicle in which you are the driver, your full attention and focus needs to be on the roadway before you. It wasn't that long ago when cell phones didn't even exist...before we had cordless phones, and gasoline prices weren't so steep. However, today, we are living in a world where suburban sprawl has given way to overcrowded roadways in certain areas- where an economic recession has driven up the price of gasoline- and where people are running out to buy the latest GPS devices and mp3 players to plug into their vehicles so that they can play with them while they drive. It's enough to drive any one person crazy. It is also a wonder that more people aren't becoming seriously injured in motor vehicle accidents.
The fact of the matter is that we are more distracted than ever, and we need to regain control of ourselves so that we can focus our attention on the roads in front of and around us. There is no reason why we shouldn't be able to prevent most auto accidents from occurring. Things such as looking both ways before making a turn onto a roadway can make the difference between striking a pedestrian who has already started to cross the street. Other examples include simple things such as obeying posted speed limits and obeying traffic signals can work wonders.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that people make while driving today involves the use of their cell phones. Sure, we have other devices and gadgetry out there, but the cell phones still take the cake. Smartphones such as the Blackberry and iPhone have accounted for more vehicular accidents than ever before due to the fact that these people are so wrapped up in texting, answering email, sending SMS messages, talking on the phone or surfing the Internet, that they forget they are even driving! Hang up the phone, store it in the trunk of your car or (god forbid), leave it at home. Don't you think your life and the lives of those around you is worth more in the long run?
Little do most of know or are even marginally aware of, whenever we are driving with our younger siblings, our children or other friends of our children, we are setting bad examples for driving behaviors that they will later mimic in their lives when it comes time for them to climb behind the wheel of a car. Do the right thing and put down the gadgets and/or other electronic devices. It will be worth it in the long run.
