Another
school year has come and gone. Summer has arrived and with it the excitement
of vacations, parties, and family outings. No more setting the alarm clock
unless you have a summer job or unfortunately summer school. Responsibilities
have fallen to the wayside, unless you have stopped driving your car.
Driving a vehicle is a constant responsibility, which rest with not only the driver, but also with any passengers. Driving a car is an activity that takes constant attention to all your surroundings, such as weather, road conditions and other traffic. Believe it or not a passenger sets the attitude of the driver. Of course all the occupants will talk to each other and that includes the driver. Conversation can cause the driver to take his attention off the road and that can lead to a severe accident, an accident which could have been avoided.
Looking away from
the road can cause the driver to run off the roadway and in an effort
to get back on the road the driver snatches the wheel and/or applies the
brakes, which causes a loss of control. The car then begins to slide sideways
into the path of oncoming traffic. Many accidents occur this way because
we instinctively jerk the steering wheel and brake in a panic situation.
Also if the driver takes his attention off the roadway, he could hit the
car in front of him if it stops at a traffic light or stops for some other
type emergency.
Being the passenger in a car, you can do several things to help the driver
keep his attention on the road. You can adjust the radio or CD controls,
climate control for the air conditioner, talk on the cell phone for the
driver and a host of other things. Let's say you are headed to Panama
City and the driver starts getting sleepy. Change drivers or at least
get him to stop for a short break.
I hope all of you
have a safe summer and look forward to your responses.
Lane Tyson, Gwinnett
County Police
Posted July 15, 2002