It's the Weekly Safety Reminder #2.The Other Driver is in the opposite lane heading in your direction. They're still a ways off. You and the other driver are going about 45 MPH and so have a combined closing speed of about 90 MPH. That driver is going to cross over into your lane in 4 minutes.
He's talking to his kids in the back seat, is 16 and got his license 5 minutes ago, reaching for a water bottle behind the passenger seat, looking at the pretty birds.
He's 2 minutes away from crossing into your lane.
She's texting, eating, doesn't see the icy spot, her accelerator is about to stick, changing the radio station, answering the phone, reading the direction signs.
She's 1 minute away from crossing into your lane.
He's drunk, has the flu, is tired, just got off a 24-hour shift, is drugged, is late for work, late for school, late for soccer practice, sun is in his eyes.
You can see the other car now. It's 20 seconds away from crossing into your lane. There's plenty of time to take action.
You disengage your cruise control, put your cup of coffee down, make driving and watching the approaching car the number one activity. You ease to the right side of your lane to provide maximum time for possible defensive action.
The other driver is in your lane. You see it as soon as it happens. You're focused enough to take immediate action. No time is lost, but there is no time to stop. You steer and are able to hit the other vehicle a glancing blow on the driver side headlight. The cars spin. Everyone is frightened.
You just avoided a head-on crash sparing yourself, your passengers and all the people that shared the crash with you in the other vehicle. So, what did you do? At least for the few moments that you saw an approaching car you made driving your vehicle your number one activity.
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