Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Section 1.1
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TRAFFIC TRIVIA
How many registered vehicles are there in the United States today?
There are over 265 million vehicles, and those vehicles travel almost 3 TRILLION miles
annually.
How many of those vehicles are
operated by safe, nice, law-
abiding drivers? The answer is,
"not enough." Many of us are
really great drivers. We watch
out for other drivers and we
make sure we don't do anything
unsafe or selfish on the road.
There are a lot of irresponsible
drivers on the road, and you see
them all the time. They run red
lights, they speed, they drive fast
in the slow lane, and they make a
lot of illegal turns. They think that
just because there's no police
officer around, it's okay to do whatever makes the trip faster. Don't these people make you
mad? Or… are YOU one of these people?
• There are more than 5.8 million traffic crashes every year in the United States.
• Over 37,000 people die in those crashes. That's about 102 people each day.
• In addition to the cost in human lives, the economic cost exceeds $240 billion annually!
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the estimated
cost of motor vehicle crashes was $242.0 billion, or $750 for every person living in the
United States.
• A recent report states that the per-person cost of traffic fatalities is $3.2 million and
$68,170 for injuries.
Sobering Statistics
The NHTSA lists the following statistics:
Every year, almost a thousand of those fatalities have happened right here in Arizona. That’s a
lot of lives lost in traffic crashes, but the good news is that in 2016 the number was 962 – a
significant decline. The numbers are pretty evenly split in that about half occurred in rural areas
and half in urban areas. Of those fatal crashes, 111 were on the Interstate.
The above statistical numbers include emergency services and court costs, but not the costs
that result from a traffic collision, such as lost wages from work, higher insurance rates, and
other related costs.
The reason for traffic rules and regulations is to keep all
those millions of vehicles from crashing into each other.
It's as simple as that!
There is an old assumption in show biz: "If you can put
on a performance and reach or move even one person,
then you've done your job as a performer and the world
is just a little bit better." Now let's think of this saying in
terms of driving. How much better would our world be if
everyone drove just a little bit more safely?
So, let's start with you! After each chapter of the course,
stop and think to yourself, "Is there room for me to
make a minor change in my daily routine?" There usually
is!
It all starts with a positive attitude and willingness to
admit to yourself that you need to make that small
change!
Section 1.2
Types of Bad Drivers
There are two types of bad drivers: The "aggressive" and the "unaware."
The American Institute for Public Safety defines the aggressive driver as a person who drives
with a lack of courtesy and thus creates dangerous situations on the road. In other words,
aggressive drivers are selfish people with really bad attitudes that cause potential harm to
others.
Although unaware drivers pose an equally threatening risk to others on the road, they are less
conscious of it because they are not paying close enough attention to their surroundings and
situations or to how their driving is affecting others.
Behavior Modification
LET'S FACE IT… we can all use some attitude adjustment. Or, as experts say, “Behavior
Modification.”
However, it makes more sense to do this before you hurt someone or even hurt yourself.
Unfortunately, in Johnny's case, he learned the hard way, because it wasn't until he got very
badly injured that he made a modification to his driving behavior.
People try to do many different things while they should be just driving. For example, they read
a map, write, talk and text on the cell phone, put on their makeup, insert their contact lenses,
eat, drink, and have even been seen shaving! Some even have sex while driving! One of our
students got a ticket for reading the newspaper while driving on the highway. How would you
like to be driving next to that guy while he's reading the sports section?
Let's Review!
• Driving a motor vehicle is a privilege.
• A car can be as dangerous as loaded weapon.
• There are over 265,000,000 registered vehicles in U.S.
• More than 5.8 million crashes occur every year.
• The economic cost of crashes exceeds $240 Billion.
• A fatal crash can cost as much as $500,000.
• Each year over 37,000 people die in car-related crashes; almost a thousand in Arizona
alone.
• One in every three collisions results in injury.
• There are two types of bad drivers—Aggressive and Unaware.
• The first step to become better is to identify your weaknesses, strengths and emotional
state.