Five things a near-crash taught me about driving
Driving home from work one afternoon, I was nearly killed. I had been cruising down a hill, within the speed limit, when my tyres picked up some oil.It was a busy road with trucks whooshing past at 80km/h. I touched the brakes lightly and that’s when the backend of the car spun out.
It’s true what they say about your life flashing before your eyes, except it was a bit clearer than that. I simply thought, this is how I die.
I didn’t, but I did learn some lessons that anyone, no matter how long they have been driving, can put into practice to stay alive.
Keep calm and carry on driving
If you don’t panic, you can use your driving skills and experience to save your life. This may include turning into a spin, judicious application of brakes, or spotting an ‘escape’ route. I gently steered into the skid to maintain traction and not slamming on the brakes or jerking the steering wheel while I did three, 360 degree turns. I was then able to drive the car down a ditch and off the road.
Always check what's included when a mechanic services your car
It’s too easy to walk away from a car service thinking that all safety features have been checked. I’m talking windscreen wipers in working order, brakes tested or inspected and tyres in good condition. Even though my car had recently been serviced, an overlooked bald tyre nearly killed me. Ask what your service includes, and check your car at regular intervals yourself.
Other drivers are kinder and smarter than you think
As my car was rotating on the opposite side of the road, I hoped it wouldn’t get hit by a fast-moving truck. But since I was concentrating on not rolling the car, I didn’t have time to look at what was coming. After I exited the vehicle, I saw a line-up of cars and trucks who had seen my predicament and stopped a safe distance away. This saved my life. Be courteous to other drivers in trouble, and keep your eyes on the road. One day the person who relies on other drivers to anticipate trouble will be you.
Know that accidents can happen in a second
Only being totally focussed will help you stay alive on the road. So don’t look at your text messages, fiddle with the music, or turn your head to have a conversation with a passenger. In NSW, distraction contributes to at least 16 per cent of serious road crashes while speed is a factor in to 41 per cent of road deaths and 24 per cent of serious injuries.
It can pay to take the road less travelled
Less than two weeks after my accident, two people were killed on the road I was travelling on. If you know you travel on a hazardous road, put some time into planning another route even if it may add time to your commute. Maybe plan to travel at a different time, too, if you can. The most dangerous time to be on the road is between 1pm and 4pm.
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