Every time you or anyone in your family operates a three or four ton motor vehicle, your family has a chance of encountering a disaster. Examples of possible disasters include death, disability, hospital stays, lawsuits, and expensive motor vehicle or property damage repairs.
According to Grelb’s reminder, eighty percent of all people consider themselves to be above average drivers. National accident statistics, however, reveal that motor vehicle accidents cause disasters too often. According to the CDC, about 90 people die each day from car crashes.
There are many reasons why there are so many car accidents. For example, drivers may be:
1. Under the negative influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain prescribed medications.
2. Distracted because they are eating, texting or involved in cell phone conversations.
3. Emotionally upset over personal matters and prone to road rage.
4. Late for an appointment.
5. Teens who are just now learning to drive.
6. Seniors whose driving skills have declined.
7. Tourists who are not accustomed to local driving conditions.
8. Drivers who have unsafe cars.
9. Illegal aliens who do not have drivers’ licenses.
10. Driving on roads that need repair.
11. Surprised by animals that attempt to cross the road.
12. Sleepy and in danger of falling asleep.
13. Driving too fast, especially during bad weather conditions.
During a disaster, such as and electrical blackout, there are additional reasons why driving will become especially dangerous. For example:
1. Stop lights might not be working.
2. Mass bugouts with motor vehicles might cause more accidents and traffic jams.
3. AAA and the police might be overwhelmed, resulting in slow response times.
4. There might be more emotionally upset drivers on the road, resulting in increased road rage incidents
5. Hospitals might be inundated with accident victims and not able to accept more patients.
It is possible for you and your family to lessen your chances of becoming victims of car crashes. Defensive Driving courses are how to do so. Such courses will be helpful not only during normal times, but also and especially during disasters. Such courses even are available online. Some insurance companies give discounts to drivers who have taken a defensive driving course. Typical courses range from one to six hours in length. For those who cannot seem to find the time for such courses, Google Videos have many videos about defensive driving.
If even one member of your family takes a defensive driving course, your whole family can benefit. The family member who has taken the defensive driving course can tell the other family members the valuable information learned.
A defensive driving course will be valuable even if your family is lucky enough to never encounter a disaster. Everyday driving is dangerous enough to merit such a course. Such a course will give more authority to the advice that you give to young and old drivers who are overconfident.
You need to be skilled in the use of your equipment. Cars are one of the most important pieces of equipment that you own. Defensive Driving Courses will help the whole family to become more skillful in the safe use of cars.
Have you taken a defensive driving course? What was your experience like?
