By: Dayna Roselli
“I know I’m going to die in a car accident.”
That’s what one of my friends told me on Sunday while we discussed driving in Las Vegas. He and his wife went on to say that in the last week they have watched people run stop signs and cut them off several times. I guess they feel enough happens to them every day, to make them believe, they will someday be in a bad accident because of someone else.
Isn’t that awful?
But, you know what. I feel the same way. It’s my worst fear. When I grab the handle of the passenger side door, it’s not because I feel my husband is a terrible driver, it’s because I fear what the person next to us or driving toward us is going to do.
It’s very sad that we feel this way. I thought maybe it was ME, because I work in Traffic and I often see terrible accident scenes. But now, I have started to hear it more and more from other people.
This alone should make us all want to be better drivers.
I drive defensively. People make fun of me…. but I don’t care. I try to be as alert as possible at all times.
I admit, I get caught answering my phone if it rings while I am driving… changing a CD… or reaching for my lipgloss out of my purse. All these things can take my focus off the road and I shouldn’t be doing it.
Have any of you taken your eyes off the road for a second… and then all of a sudden seen brake lights in front of you? Brake lights that weren’t there before! That has happened to me in the past, but I learned my lesson quick!
Listen, anything can happen. But we should all be more cautious overall and be kinder on the roads. Don’t cut people off, don’t hold your hand up and scream or honk your horn in anger…. just think twice. We can all benefit.
And maybe we can stop saying, “I know I’m going to die in a car accident.”
Wouldn’t that be nice?
I feel the same way. I am on the road a lot with my job and find myself letting everyone in traffic all day to keep from getting hit. By the way it is the nice thing to do. Remember it is always somebody’s happy hour! Unlike other cities more people are drinking and driving during the daytime.
Comment by Robbie — June 3, 2008 @ 10:41 am
We know how you feel about a car accident ending your life. We had a great economy car which we traded in after driving here for a year. We now have a SUV because my husband felt that we would be killed, if we didn’t get something large. So much for saving on gas.
Comment by Carol McLendo — June 5, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
This all rings very true and it can be so scary out there! I find myself doing things like looking both ways at an intersection even as the passenger as well.
Comment by FG — June 10, 2008 @ 5:45 pm
It’s a crying shame when we get to the point that we fill we are going to die in a car crash at the hands of another. I’ve driven all types of vehicles in all sorts of conditions and used to be a cop enforcing traffic laws. I used to be of the opinion that drivers in L.A. were the worst driver I’ve ever seen, but after living here in Vegas for the past 12 years I can honestly say that Vegas drivers easily top the charts as some of the most inconsiderate and ill mannered drivers I’ve come across. It seems they believe themselves above even the most basic of traffic laws, which have been put into place not as an inconvenience but to help keep us safe on the road. I’ve seen first hand what can happen when driver’s don’t pay attention to the rules of the road and wind up not only hurting themselves, but other innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have lost count on the number of times I myself have almost been in what surely would have been a terrible accident because of someone else’s inability to follow the rules of the road. Vegas driver’s need to wake up and pay attention behind the wheel and show more consideration for their fellow driver’s. You may think your saving yourself time by driving with a total disregard for traffic laws, but in the end your so called luck will run out and the consequences of your actions will come squarely back to your door.
Just remember the next time your tempted to go through that yellow suddenly red light that another impatient driver like you going the other way can ruin your whole day. So show some common sense behind the wheel and remember too that courtesy is contagious!!
Comment by Edward Carter — June 11, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
How about people who commit suicide by driving into commercial vehicles that go BOOM!!!
It happened in the month of December 06.
One such person tried taking himself out hitting a tanker truck. When it didn’t blow up, he ran in front of a car.
Comment by John — June 13, 2008 @ 5:55 am
Most people that say they get cutoff a lot is because they are driving much slower and more conservative than traffic flow. It is too bad that people can’t respect drivers that are driving much slower. However, when everyone else is going faster, they are annoyed and cut you off more than usual. Running stop signs, mmm have not saw anyone just run the stop sign without at least doing a California stop. Try driving wtih traffic.
Comment by Sam Hill — June 21, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
What bothers me the most is the Traffic Lights! They are timed way off! In other cities I’ve lived in, if you come to a red light, and no traffic is moving on the other’s green light, a sensor or something causes your light to change. Not here! I will be sitting at a red light FOREVER! No cars will be coming, and my light never seems to change!
It’s horrible. Think about the emissions and burning fuel here in 109 degree weather! Waiting for lights to change green. Another thing, every city I lived in, when the light turns green the left turn lanes go first! Then the people who go straight. It’s so backwards here and the traffic does not move smoothly at all!
Comment by Irene — July 9, 2008 @ 6:25 pm