Road safety…let’s make it personal
When most people take a personal interest in something, they often express more passion toward that topic. As a bystander, they may feel some compassion for a short period of time, but after that, they tend to go back to their old ways and move on. So how can we help drivers see the point of road safety as a passion to make changes to their driving performance and activities safer? Sometimes you have to change the performance in order to change the attitude. Other times, it’s a matter of making it personal. So, let’s make it personal.
If you or your family were walking through the crosswalk and you had a driver speed past you and blow through the stop, you would be irate and possibly so angry with them you would tell everyone who would listen just how bad that driver was and how your lives were put at risk. Remember that next time you’re in a hurry and are approaching pedestrians near or in the crosswalk. If you have a family member learning to drive and someone is either tailgating them, honking at them to speed up or move over, I’m sure you would get annoyed or angry with them. Keep that in mind next time you do something similar to another driver. Having an excuse is different than having a reason. Penalizing someone for something they’re doing that you don’t like is childish. Driving is an adult task so its time drivers acted like one.
In one of the seasons in which I was a judge on Canada’s Worst Driver, there was a driver who behaved like I’ve described. Speeding, weaving and putting other drivers at risk. He didn’t really care about the other road users, until I brought up the fact they were a parent with young kids. I asked him if he saw his kids too close to the road and when a speeding or reckless driver was approaching if he would pull them back. He said “yes, of course.” I then asked, “So why is that any different from what you’re doing?”
There’s an old saying, it’s more difficult to argue with yourself than it is with anyone else. I try to get that done by asking drivers a few questions. When they say the answers I’m looking for, it’s better than if I’m the one saying them. There’s a better chance they will remember what they said as their mind is the one that came up with that information. And if I can get them to say that was dangerous driving, maybe…just maybe they will change their attitude behind the wheel.
If you would be annoyed, frustrated or angry if another driver put you, your family or your vehicle at risk, what makes it any different if you did the same thing? You’re no better than they are. I was a passenger years ago in my youth when the driver I was with was following someone traveling much slower than he wanted to go. When he finally had a chance to pass him, he cut that driver off to drive directly in front of them and immediately slowed down, just to annoy them. He was no better than the slow driver he was annoyed with. Is there any logic to that action? Isn’t that being a hypocrite? You can lose a lost of respect that way.
If you’re concerned about the safety of your friends and family on the road, make it personal. Change how you act behind the wheel. Drive like your friends and family are in each vehicle you follow and pass. Drive like your friends and family are in the crosswalk or on their bikes. Slow down and follow the rules. Leave early enough so you won’t take chances to speed or ‘try to get ahead’ by weaving in and out of traffic. Pay attention and focus behind the wheel. Road safety is a shared responsibility, so let’s make it personal.