“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?