Can Cautious Drivers Be As Dangerous As Distracted Drivers?

With a “laundry” list of driver distractions – texting, talking on the phone, eating, drinking, reading a map, etc, it seems crazy that cautious drivers could be dangerous on our roadways.

Here are some of the most common errors by cautious drivers:

• Driving well-below the speed limit when the traffic is moving at the posted limit.
• Slowing down because you are lost or unsure where you are going.
• Slowing down on the highway because you realize, at the last minute, you are in the wrong lane and are afraid to miss your exit.
• Waiting for a green light at a right turn on red intersection.
• Slowing down or stopping in order to find a space to merge into traffic rather than maintaining safe speed to merge with traffic.
• Stopping at a round-about rather than merging into traffic.

While these are all dangerous activities behind the wheel, today I witnessed an accident caused by someone who was not merely over-cautious, but quite possibly stressed to the point that she should not be driving.  I saw the accident happen and the wrongdoer looked obviously upset, so I pulled over to offer assistance. What I learned was alarming.  This woman told me her drive to work began with four deer crossing her path as she was leaving home.  It made her so nervous that she found herself watching for deer everywhere.  Then, she noticed the driver behind her looking down, then talking on a mobile phone.  She was so nervous that his inattentiveness would result in him slamming into her vehicle that she kept checking her rear view mirror.  She admitted that between watching for deer and a “distracted driver”, she was not focused on her own driving and did not see the traffic stop in front of her.  Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt.

This list of “distractions” by careful drivers is only a few that came to mind on my way to work today.  What are your “distractions”?  Remember, driving cautious may not mean driving safe.  Think twice before engaging in any distractions next time you get behind the wheel.

Mark Bello has thirty-six years experience as a trial lawyer and fourteen years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by a plaintiff involved in pending, personal injury, litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Member of Public Justice, Public Citizen, the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.