|
CAR
accidents usually happen in three seconds or less. The
count goes, “Zero One, Zero Two, Zero Three.” In three
ticks of the clock, bone-breaking, if not life-snapping,
mishaps can happen.
But we
can all try to avoid a car crash. By just being
completely conscious of safe driving, we can do it.
I’ve
said it before, but I’ll say it again. My safe-driving
mode is named ABC of Driving—ABC meaning
Avoid-Brake-Control.
Avoid.
It’s not hard avoiding man or machine on the road. If
you drive right, which means you have to be alert at all
times when behind the wheel, it’s easy to avoid hitting
a pedestrian or a vehicle.
When
used in terms of driving, there are many faces, meanings
if you wish, of the word “avoid.”
Like,
avoid driving too close to the vehicle in front of you.
Keep your distance. That way, the driver just ahead of
you won’t get your goat if he decides to suddenly stop
in the middle of the road—as in a jeepney, bus or taxi
driver—to either load or unload a passenger. With proper
distance, you can easily avoid hitting the
in-front-of-you vehicle suddenly screeching to a stop.
Avoid
obnoxious drivers. They are those who irk by staying too
close to you during a rush-hour traffic jam. Don’t be
selfish and you’ll reap the benefits. Give them that
inch of precious space to move on, thereby relieving
stress and tension off your system arising from “gitgitan.”
As much as possible do that, too, at intersections. It’s
better to be safe than late.
Avoid
Hell’s Angels drivers. They are the poor mimics of
Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen and Schumacher, for they do
their tricks outside of the Formula One tracks. They are
nothing but a bunch of showoffs, if not nutcases, out to
impress and not to express the proper courtesies on the
road. Minding them, as in playing their game, is
courting instant disaster.
Brake.
The rule
should be, brake instead of honk. The brake is there
not to be ignored but to be continually used. Honk your
horn only when extremely necessary. In America, people
mostly drive offensively. Over here, we drive
defensively. Brakes save lives; honks irk lives.
Control.
In pursuit of safe driving, the word “control” is the
main key. Control your urge to overdrink before you
drive. If you can’t, have someone drive you home.
Control your temper so that you may always use reason
more than emotion. Be reasonable against unreasonable
drivers. Drive away from them, never debate with them.
In 1991
a male motorist was shot dead by a gun-wielding fellow
motorist over a petty traffic debate between them.
16 years
later—just two weeks ago, actually—a motorist and his
female companion were similarly gunned down by a male
motorist, who was only 16 when the above-cited 1991
killing happened. Reason: another traffic debate ensued
arising reportedly from “gitgitan.” The irony was, the
suspected gunman is a lawyer. Aren’t lawyers supposed
to argue with the power of words and not with the barrel
of a gun?
Such
killings would have been avoided if the ABC of Driving
was in their vocabulary—victims and perpetrators alike.
So take
heed, fellas. Embrace the ABC of Driving and be a Coffin
Cheater instead of a Coffin Eater.
PEE
STOP.
Jojo Clemente and Maribel Cantada play host to the 7th
PTAA Golf Cup on October 15 at Santa Elena, with
dignitaries, travel bigwigs and car executives in
attendance. Call 552-0026 to 29 for details…. Cheers to
Isuzu’s smashingly successful CSR trip down South, to
Honda’s splendidly staged golf event at the historic
Wack Wack, to Hyundai’s much-awaited bash for its
high-end rides on October 15, and to Toyota’s recent
milestone of accomplishing its 500,000th sale of a
vehicle in the country. |
