This is my space, that is your space
I’ve recently spent a lot of personal time behind the wheel. For the last 21 years as a driving instructor for Young Drivers of Canada, I’ve spent more time letting other people drive, but this year it’s been different. I’ve spent a lot of time driving to different baseball parks to watch our kids play the game they love. Recently while we were driving along a secondary highway on our way home from a game, I experienced a driver coming toward me in my own lane attempting to pass a slower moving vehicle. Would you know what to do to avoid a head on crash?
I first saw the red sports car pull out from behind another driver because I was looking ahead and anticipating potential problems. The lane markings on the road were broken for the oncoming traffic and that always reminds me to look to see what the oncoming drivers might do. I immediately leveled out my speed and moved my mini van onto the shoulder. The little red sports car squeezed back into his own lane just before we got to them.
In Canada each year, roughly 21% of all fatal crashes are head on crashes. For the most part, people watch death and injury approach them. They don’t know what to do. Preparation is always the key to surviving on our roads. As drivers, we need to always know where our escape route is and be ready to use it at any time; regardless of whether we’re in motion or stopped in traffic.
Maintaining speed as I approached the gravel shoulder kept the tire traction balanced and the vehicle stabilized. Leaving enough room in the lane for the oncoming vehicle to use is very possible as the lane is roughly 2 vehicle widths wide. If you leave your left side tires barely on the pavement, you’ll still have traction, plus you’ll give the oncoming driver enough room to pass. While you’re on the gravel shoulder, look well ahead at the edge of the road and that will keep your vehicle moving along smoothly.
Luckily in my situation, the whole event was under control. Was it because I spotted the problem early and gave time for the sports car to complete their pass? Was it because I used the shoulder immediately to give the driver space? The answer is yes on both counts. Know where your escape route is at all times and be ready to use it. Who knows, maybe it could save your life!
HI Scott,
This is awesome! Pardon my ignorance, but this is your blog, right? I just came from meeting about setting up our own blogs, twitter and facebook pages…I’m slowly learning as I go.
Fantastic!
Gina
Awesome article! You are absolutely right. I do want to make the point that no one should cross the center line to avoid a collision unless there is absolutely now other way out.
1. if you cross center and there is a collision, you are at fault – “he was in my lane” is not an excuse.
2. If the driver in your lane cuts back into his, there will be a collision, you are at fault!
3. wear your seatbelts at all times!
I’m a survivor of a horrific head-on where the driver of the other car fell asleep and was in our lane. The offset head-on crushed the passenger side, I was the passenger. Took the rescue squad an hour and a half to cut me out.
Take these tips to heart and remember them! Avoiding the jaws of life is a good thing.
Excellent post. Great blog. Cindy Smith sent me over!
Thank you Jenn. I appreciate the feedback and support.
One note: The solution of veering right, as you suggest, is effective when there is sufficient space to the right and the situation is detected early enough. There are other situations where the driver should take a different approach: Once an oncoming driver is detected, the driver should brake hard and stick right as possible. Hang on to the brakes for as long as possible to reduce speed and allow the oncoming driver to make it back to his or her lane.
If this solution does not work (and in a great deal of cases it does work) the solution is to veer right “at the last possible second” as to try and get around the oncoming driver or at least hit something stationary alongside the road. This hit is going to be much softer than hitting an oncoming car, and is not likely to cause serious injury. Veering left is dangerous, should the other driver make it back to his lane or because you might hit another driver behind him or the driver he is overtaking.
Thanks for your comment. One thing that needs to considered is the reaction of the oncoming driver. If you wait until the last possible moment to move to the right, so will they. If their lane is blocked by the driver they are passing, the only other option for them is to the open shoulder. By you moving over sooner, rather than later, you’re also communicating to that driver you’re helping them by creating space.