YELLOW MEANS STOP
WRECK-LESS DRIVING ©
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
YELLOW MEANS STOP
EAST HARTFORD, CT: Eilean H. died in the hospital hours after a two-car crash. She was eastbound on US 44, making a left turn at a controlled intersection when northbound Doris K. struck the front passenger door of Eilean's 1995 red compact sports car. Witnesses said that as the traffic light for Eilean's direction turned yellow her vehicle increased speed noticeably but was still in the intersection when the light turned red.
Her vehicle had no front air bags nor would they have helped much in this side collision. Investigators said that she would have lived had she worn the safety belt. Doris was shaken and bruised but was saved from major harm by both the front air bag and by the safety belt.
The safe driving lessons here are several. When the traffic light turns yellow, stop. Use the safety belts, even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. When you have the green light do not assume that the way is clear, especially if the signals have just changed. Older persons have more fragile bodies, sustain more injuries, and heal more slowly, if ever.
There is an age-old joke about new drivers thinking that yellow means "drive faster". Unfortunately many seasoned drivers believe it still. Had Eilean driven a newer auto with side air bags she might have survived. Side and front air bags are even safer when the safety belts are used also.
GHD80 all rights reserved wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp
by Gunther Doerfert, Auto Safety Columnist
YELLOW MEANS STOP
EAST HARTFORD, CT: Eilean H. died in the hospital hours after a two-car crash. She was eastbound on US 44, making a left turn at a controlled intersection when northbound Doris K. struck the front passenger door of Eilean's 1995 red compact sports car. Witnesses said that as the traffic light for Eilean's direction turned yellow her vehicle increased speed noticeably but was still in the intersection when the light turned red.
Her vehicle had no front air bags nor would they have helped much in this side collision. Investigators said that she would have lived had she worn the safety belt. Doris was shaken and bruised but was saved from major harm by both the front air bag and by the safety belt.
The safe driving lessons here are several. When the traffic light turns yellow, stop. Use the safety belts, even if the vehicle is equipped with air bags. When you have the green light do not assume that the way is clear, especially if the signals have just changed. Older persons have more fragile bodies, sustain more injuries, and heal more slowly, if ever.
There is an age-old joke about new drivers thinking that yellow means "drive faster". Unfortunately many seasoned drivers believe it still. Had Eilean driven a newer auto with side air bags she might have survived. Side and front air bags are even safer when the safety belts are used also.
GHD80 all rights reserved wellnessebooks.com/ebookstore.asp
posted by WRECK-LESS at Friday, August 12, 2005
1 Comments:
When I became a driving teacher, I was taught the following concerning stopping for traffic lights:
1. Look ahead to identify "stale" green lights. This light has been green since you noticed the light.
2. Identify your "Point of No Return." Practice locating the point when you are TWO seconds from the intersection. Up to that point, be PREPARED TO STOP. AT that point and beyond, DO NOT STOP. I have my students say "SNAP" out loud when they think they are two seconds away. It takes a while to judge the point, because it's not based on a distance, but on the speed you are going. To practice locating that two-second mark, we use not just the lights, but signs, landmarks, etc.
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