Things I Tell My Wife by Matt Knutson

“There’s nothing we can do,” I told my wife as we drove passed an accident we narrowly avoided on our way back from the cabin this weekend. Cars were pulled over on both sides of the interstate and damage to vehicles and people was evident. It’s a bit haunting to drive away from a crash scene unscathed. We were seconds from being involved, yet merely witnessed what may have been a trailer tipping over and the brake lights from nearby cars doing their best to avoid the accident. This was the second close call we experience over the weekend.

After each incident, Sera reiterated how thankful she was that I was the one driving. No one wants to be the driver when it gets dangerous. I’ve reflected back on the ages of people involved in the accident, ranging from young children to senior citizens. My oldest nephew turned 16 in December and has been enjoying the freedom that comes with driving, and I can honestly say I can’t comprehend how my sister is OK with sending her child out into the dangerous city streets each day. I’m confident my nephew is an acceptable driver, but the risk is still so fresh in my mind.

Everything can change so quickly when you’re moving at 70 miles per hour. Because of our recent experiences, I thought the wonderful readers of the Albert Lea Tribune might enjoy a quick read on Matt’s personal driving tips.

1. Try to always have a way out. Traffic is always changing around your vehicle, so it’s important to consider what your action plan would be if you suddenly needed to modify your driving. Can you slam on the brakes, or is the car behind you moving too fast? If absolutely necessary, which lane can I swerve into in an effort to avoid a collision? Planning a way out helps avoid accidents and is a staple of defensive driving.

2. Pretend all other vehicles have someone you love in them. Would you really pull your car out in front of your sister and hope for the best? Probably not. Would you ignore using your signal if your mom was in the car behind you? Doubtful. Is there any way you wouldn’t come to a complete stop if you wife was in another vehicle in the intersection? I hope not. It’s so easy to disconnect cars from people, but nearly every car on the road has a person in it. Those people, who likely annoy us more than anyone else in our day, are important to someone, somewhere. Take extra care to keep them safe like you would a family member.

3. Put away your phone while driving. Just don’t use it. I don’t want to waste any more words on this point, so please don’t be so stupid.

4. Don’t endanger others with your mistake. So what if you missed your exit? Take the next one and find your way back. Zooming across three lanes of traffic to avoid missing your ramp is dangerous and not worth the potential consequences. Are you speeding because you’re going to be late? You’re barely gaining any time and putting much more at risk than being delayed.

5. Know what to do so you can be prepared if you do get into an accident. If you have your phone, you have a whole toolkit of help. Keep a record of your insurance information in the car and on your phone. Many insurance companies have an app now that can assist you. I also recommend you download a first aid app. There are some great free ones that can help save someone’s life if you haven’t been properly trained.

There’s a lot more people can do to drive safer. Until we’re all riding in Google’s self-driving cars, we’re going to experience reckless motorists and accidents that might have been unpreventable. Slow down and appreciate what you have on your drive today. Sometimes there isn’t anything anybody can do, but sometimes there are. Put in the extra effort to be ready for those times, and help other drivers out when it seems like nobody else can.

 

Rochester resident Matt Knutson is the communications and events director for United Way of Olmsted County.