In my last column I described how I had avoided the grief and anguish that would have arisen from some potential accidents because of the use of anticipation. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of developing one’s radar by scanning the road ahead for “red flags” and taking appropriate action. A simple example: while driving my car along the autovia I came upon a young person riding a moped up ahead. He was riding within the breakdown lane at a maximum 45 km/h. I’m driving at 120 km/h. He is approaching my exit lane. If he crosses over the exit just as I turn off there will be a death on the road.
Solution: I begin to slow so that he can cross the exit before I get to it, and I do this even if I have to use my hazard flashers to hold back the traffic behind me. In doing so I am avoiding the accident at all costs without the possibility of causing another, and I also keep in mind that the rider is someone’s son or daughter and I do my part for them to arrive home safely. No excuses! No tears!
So let’s look at some other examples of what would have been:
(1) On several occasions, I have had the priority on roundabouts when approaching cars have entered the circle without giving way to me. Fortunately, I always watch for this as older residents sometimes still think that if they are approaching me from my right, they have priority. (Normal rules of the road in Spain state that it is this traffic that has priority unless otherwise advised.) At roundabouts the rule is reversed. There are signs at all traffic circles advising entering traffic to give way to traffic within the circle, but sometimes that fails to register. So I have saved myself at least three broadside collisions by avoiding the accident at all costs. All that I did was look for the tell-tale signs that the side approaching car was going to stop. That is indicated to me by the front dipping as the brakes are applied. No dip, he's not going to stop, so I have to hold back. Again, anticipation.
(2) When travelling through residential neighbourhoods I anticipate there will be children playing in the streets and riding their bikes. Cross streets are especially dangerous, not only because of cars that come cruising through without stopping at their stop signs, but also children generally have no road sense. One day I was crossing through streets where I had priority. I was stopping at every crossing when suddenly a boy appeared directly in front of me on his bike, and right behind him came another. Thankfully I was virtually stopped at the time. Had I not been the boys would surely have suffered injury. Probably not too serious, but I sure would not have wanted to have heard the anguish of their parents. (In Spanish!)
(3) Now, here are some “accidents” that occurred that simply need not have:
(a) During the past five years I have come upon so many cars turned over in the ditch along an absolutely straight road as to cause me to look into how these happen. I got lucky one night as I was the first person on the scene of one that had happened just outside the city limits of Torrevieja. As I am legally required to stop to give assistance I did. Thankfully there were no apparent injuries but police and ambulance attended. While we were waiting I asked the driver, a young Spaniard, what had happened. He replied as follows and confirmed my suspicions:
He had a companion to whom he had turned his head to the right to ask her a question, and the next thing he knew the world turned upside down.
The act of turning one’s head beyond a certain point has the effect of turning the opposite hand that is holding the steering wheel in the direction that one is looking. Maybe only slightly, but too often that is all that is needed.
Moral of the story: keep your eyes on the road while talking to passengers. Resist the urge to look ‘em in the eye.
Recently, while driving the N-332 ( a notorious National road), I was keeping an eye on the car immediately ahead of me as well as looking forward when I saw a situation developing that was sure to be a collision in the making. I immediately turned on my hazards and slowed, this time keeping a keen eye on the car behind to be sure he got the message. The three cars ahead were not so lucky as they ended up as part of a domino effect.
So this was about staying alert to not only what’s happening in the immediate area but also avoiding surprises ahead.
So, it will be seen that the key to avoidance of collisions is anticipation and staying alert. The ability to think ahead forms a great part of the science of driving.
Death on the roads? It doesn’t have to end like that!
Don´t overtake on two-way road systems. Save your life for those who love you.
Copyright (c) 2007 Eugene Carmichael
