Drivers need to use logic and common sense…
Logic, common sense, practicality, judgement, reasoning… these words to me describes what a driver needs to make good choices behind the wheel. For the most part, drivers tend to have most of these…most of the time. How often do you use good logic while driving compared to lack of common sense?
Think about it, the more times you can use common sense and logic behind the wheel, you can reach your destination sooner and safer. Those around you, including your passengers, can also reach their destination safer because you applied good judgement and good decision making skills. You actually become a driver.
So how can you get such skills or even verify you have them? The first step is to assess what you’ve been doing as if you were an observer. Decided what you’ve done in the past and were there any negative outcomes. If so, then decide what you should have done differently to remove the negative outcome. The first part of improving your thought process is to look well ahead while driving. Assess the driving environment up the road to approximately 15 seconds from where you are now; minimum. This will give you more time to make better driving decisions. As I’ve said many times to many people; look well ahead to think well ahead to respond well ahead.
The next thing is to begin to change your driving attitude. Ask yourself if your choices will affect you or anyone else in a negative way. I recently passed this road in the morning going in the opposite direction when I saw a driver drive around the gate which was down and travel up the road. The sign is a good indicator that the road is closed during a set period of time, but with a closed gate, that’s a true indicator. This is a road that has a reverse traffic flow at certain times of the day. During the morning, the gate comes down so that drivers coming down the road can use both sides of the street. The lights above the lanes show this is possible for them.
However, the driver heading toward them purposely went around the gate and drove toward traffic. Why would they do such a thing? Were they confused? Did they not think about the fact there would be traffic coming toward them? Did they not think how their actions would affect those drivers heading down the road in the same lane as the driver heading up the road? Did they make a mistake or do it on purpose? Only they will know, but can we learn from them?
It comes down to thinking ahead and deciding if their action was logical and if it would affect other people. Actions that we make every day can very well affect other people. Helping ourselves make good decisions is to your advantage. As drivers we need to improve our ability to make decisions as we often have to change our plans based on what’s going on around us in the driving environment. Improving your cognitive ability is a great way to ‘train your brain’ to do this. It can help you improve your ability to change plans and make better decisions. Being a safe, proactive driver helps everyone on the road, including yourself. Are you that type of driver?