Drivers ask What If Published July 19, 2011 By Neil Townley 17th Training Wing Safety GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- What if? The single greatest thing anyone can do while driving their car, hands down, is to constantly ask themselves: what if? What if a car runs the red light when I enter this intersection? What if the person behind me can't stop? What if a deer runs out in the road? What if a tire blows out? Serious vehicle mishaps usually result from lack of thinking or an inappropriate response to unexpected situations. Asking "what if" helps drivers think ahead about what could happen, and hopefully make them better prepared to respond if it does, or even prevent it from happening all together. The right of way. In our daily rush to get everything done as quick as possible, we sometimes forget that right of way is something to be given, not taken. Just because the light turns green doesn't mean everyone else agrees with, or is paying attention to, that fact. An unfortunate example of this was in 2003 when a staff sergeant was crossing a road going to work. When the light turned green the sergeant simply accelerated across the road with his eyes on the gate shack in front of him and not the roadway to his left and right. A large truck just happened to be running a right light from his left and collided with the driver door of the sergeant's compact car. The sergeant didn't make it. A simple glance to the left to ensure he had the right of way could've prevented this horrible loss. Distracted driving. Drivers who are doing anything besides driving the car should consider what could happen in an instant. Have you ever talked or texted on a cell phone? Have you ever screwed on a bottle cap after taking a drink? Have you ever changed or inserted a CD into your radio? Have you ever tried to deal with children in a child seat while driving? Believe it or not, all of those things have taken Airmen's lives in the past. Do you think you could die from merely taking a drink and then setting the bottle down in your cup holder? Of course not. Neither did the Airman that it actually happened to, but it can. Good drivers just drive. So before getting behind the wheel, think ahead about what could happen and better prepared to respond; ask yourself: what if.
