HOW NOT TO DRIVE.COM

 

Mistake # 3: DAYDREAM, MULTITASK AND DRIFT OUT OF LANE

Multi-task, daydream, look at who you are talking to and brake after you turn the wheel into a curve (just as a matter of bad habit) - The leading cause of flip-overs, light pole-smacking and death in general is drifting off the road, and it is also the second most common crash! (You don't have to be stunting like in this video to go too fast into a curve.

Read more below, and then go to Top 10 accident number 4

 

 
HOW DIFFICULT CAN IT BE TO STAY ON THE ROAD?
The number two most common crash! Pay attention people!
 
Three reasons why people accidentally steer off of the road:

  1. Not paying attention (talking, daydreaming, multi-tasking, looking for a piece of gum or a CD or whatever)

  2. Going too fast into a curve, especially when wet or icy

  3. Both a) and b) at the same time

All it takes is a second to drift

Again, you might be surprised at how often this happens because:
a) you don't see it during your daily drive,
b) it doesn't happen to you personally and
c) it isn't reported in the news unless really bad (although the numbers are available in government reports, but who reads those?)
 
Even with only one tire off the road, it can be very difficult to steer.
 
And the fact that going off to the right rather than into oncoming traffic to the left is important to understand also. If you drift off to the right, it is more difficult to steer when you are half off the road. Often drivers will flip over as they attempt to steer onto the road again.
 
But if you drift to the left, you have more steering control, because you are still on the road. However, drivers that drift to the left are often so startled by the sight of oncoming traffic that they steer too much to the right, and then go off the road where they crash or flip over.
Too much reaction is worse than not enough reaction. The oncoming driver will steer a little bit also. But steering too much will also cause you to lose your balance in your seat, and you will lose control.
 
ALWAYS RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL BEFORE YOU STEER, AND BRAKE BEFORE YOU STEER IF TURNING SHARP (LOOK FOR SIGNS,) AND PAY ATTENTION.
 

VIDEO:

Here's an example of what can happen if you drift off the road, either because you weren't paying attention (daydreaming, falling asleep, reaching for something) or simply to avoid someone else. The driver "over-reacted" to get back onto the road. First the driver went off-road to avoid another driver, then tried to steer immediately back onto the road. If you drift off the road, for whatever reason, release the gas pedal and steer carefully back onto the road. 

 
 
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NEWS FLASH! DRIVING IS BORING!

What a great opportunity to multi-task. Here you are, sitting in a steel and plastic box, doing nothing but pushing the pedals and steering the wheel. Wouldn't it be so much more practical to do some other things at the same time? Wouldn't it be great to make the most of your time?

 

The side of the road is only a few feet away. All it takes is a few seconds of looking away or daydreaming to drift off the road and lose control completely.

 

It's surprising when you experience just how easy it is to lose control, and how quickly it happens.

 

So sit in your chair, relax, breath, concentrate and focus.  

 

But don't shave, eat a bowl of cereal, do your hair or your make-up, change a baby's diaper, play a musical instrument, type a letter or tie your shoes while driving.

 

There's really not much to it. It's hard to believe so many people can't stay on the road.

 

Of course, weather makes it worse, so see the weather page for more info.

 

VIDEO:

The next video is a professional car driver in a car race, but made the mistake of going into a curve too fast on wet roads, and ended up going off the road and flipping over into water

In this next video, a driver loses control, going too fast, steering too much, and hits a light pole. Remember, the light poles don't bend nor do they break.

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