4 December 2024

….It’s the other person you have to worry about! Like me, you probably heard your parents repeat this over and over again from the moment you got your auto driver’s permit, up until the last time you drove to their house, and left their house. And if you’re like me, you probably say the same to the younger people just like they did to you.

I have had a total of three accidents in my driving history, and thankfully I am still here to write about it. My parents and sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews have also been fortunate to survive minor and more serious accidents.

Be aware. Use your seatbelts. Take heed of driver safe practices and the laws. It just might save your life.

So yes, our loved ones were, and are, correct to remind us to watch out for the other drivers who are doing things like:

- talking on mobile phones

- eating breakfast, lunch or dinner

- grooming themselves (I even saw a woman combing her hair looking in to the rearview mirror ON THE FREEWAY once)

- watching movies on a device

- taking selfies - otherwise not paying attention or adhering to motor vehicle laws

According to recent data (2022), most fatal crashes occur between midnight and 2:59 a.m., and during the 6:00 - 8:59 p.m. time frames. Also, July - October have the highest number of crashes.2021 had the highest number of accidents on record with 39,785 fatal crashes. (Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration https://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Crashes/CrashesLocation.aspx )

So be safe out there during the holidays and at all other times throughout the year.