Drive to survive - Brief Article

Combat Edge, April, 2002 by Charles Manuel

Defensive driving. We hear these two small words all the time, but do we really put them into practice? What will it take for us to do so? I know what it took for me, and I'd like to share that story so that others can hope-fully take heed as well.

It happened during my high school years to a friend of mine. Her name was Rebecca -- or Becky to her friends -- and every one was her friend. She was an only daughter and lived in a rural community. She was everything a parent could wish for. Her grades ensured that she made the honor roll every year. She excelled in all the girls' sports. She had good looks. She started her senior year as the head cheerleader. When it came time to pick the Homecoming Queen, she was the only real choice.

The night before the Homecoming football game, she finished cheerleading practice late. She needed to be at the dance early for a practice coronation session, but her dress was at home. This meant she had to drive several miles out to the farm, change, and return to the dance.

Please understand, Becky was a good driver. She did not speed even when she was in a hurry. She also did not take any crazy chances. She felt it was better to show up late than dead. She did not, however, prepare herself to anticipate and compensate for the mistakes of other drivers on the road.

As she traveled the country roads to the farm, she came up on a grain truck where the road split into three lanes. The truck driver was in the center turn lane, signaling a left turn. Becky saw the situation and stayed in the right lane to pass the truck on the right as it was making its left turn. That left turn never happened.

As Becky was passing on the right, the grain truck turned right directly into the path of her car. It turned out that the driver had swung left into the center lane to make his right turn easier. Becky had no time to stop even though she slammed on the brakes. The initial impact knocked the rearview mirror off its post on the windshield. Then the right rear corner to the truck's bed pushed that post directly into Becky's head.

How do I know all this? The police report told some of it. The rest I learned from Becky. Yes, she survived. A large portion of her brain is gone along with some precious memories. It took years of extensive therapy for Becky to be able to walk and talk almost normally. She did finally graduate high school, but she will never run, do a cartwheel, or perform her cheerleading gymnastic routines again. And all of this happened because she did not put her defensive driving skills into practice. It was a momentary lapse that has cost her and her family dearly.

It has taken me a few years, but I have come to greatly value the lessons I learned from Becky. Driving defensively is a necessary skill. We all must be prepared for the mistakes of others on the road and give ourselves the time and space required to react safely. I find that I now avoid situations where I might have to use my emergency driving skills.

This has become an automatic reaction on my part. I watch the other drivers when I'm out on the road -- and not just their cars. A driver's s body language can give you a lot of clues as to what their next move might be. As I am driving along, I try to see potential problems and analyze all of the risks associated with each one. I then give myself enough room to avoid getting entangled in as many as I possibly can. It's a second-by-second risk management technique that helps me arrive alive and healthy at my next destination. After all, I've got a granddaughter at home who is counting on me being there for her. Who is counting on you?

RELATED ARTICLE: Are You Making Any of These Top 10 Driving Errors?

Courtesy of the Air Force Safely Center and Utah Safely Council

1. Not looking carefully for oncoming traffic.

2. Pulling out to pass without checking for traffic in the passing lane.

3. Pulling out of a parking space without looking back for oncoming cars.

4. Excessive speed.

5. Inattention.

6. Making no attempt or an unsuccessful attempt to steer around an impending crash.

7. Internal distraction (i.e., a crying baby, talking on a cell phone, adjusting the radio or tape player, etc.).

8. Inadequate defensive driving.

9. Making an incorrect assumption about other drivers' intentions.

10. Improper maneuvering or driving in the wrong direction or lane.