Protect yourself by driving defensively

You wouldn't think backing out of your driveway and heading up the road a few hundred feet would end your life.

But that's what almost happened to me.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you that drivers in this state seem to be getting worse each and every day. There are a number of reasons for this. Whether we want to admit it or not, active alcoholics and drug users are a major part of the problem.

Pot usage certainly does not improve the situation either, as evidenced in states where recreational use is legal. People texting while driving is another problem.

In addition, ABC News reports that one out of five car accidents involving fatalities have operators without valid driver licenses. Many of these irresponsible people have multiple suspensions or revocations. Yet they choose to drive anyway.

Age and inexperience are factors as well. One-third of fatal accidents involve males younger than 20.

Western states have a high rate of fatal accidents caused by illegal drivers. New Mexico is the highest at 25 percent. Maine is the lowest at 6.4 percent.

As Lodi grows in population, the number of cops patrolling the streets remains static. As a result, our police department sets priorities. Rigorous traffic enforcement has taken a backseat to more serious crimes now facing this city.

So what does all this have to do with my opening statement?

It was a cloudy morning last week when I headed up my street toward Turner Road. The intersection at Church/Rivergate and Turner is known for drivers occasionally running red lights. Over the years, I've learned not to enter that crossroad without making sure traffic is clear on Turner — no matter what the signal light shows.

On this particular day, I was waiting for the light to turn green. When it did, rather than proceed, I looked both ways. Suddenly, a blue and white double-trailer gravel truck blew through the stop light on Turner at an estimated 50 mph.

Needless to say, had I moved on green, there wouldn't have been a chance against at least 80,000 pounds of truck and trailers. No doubt, pieces of my disintegrated body would have been found months later in a variety of locations.

It's a shame we have to drive under such dangerous conditions. It's a gauntlet every time I sit behind the wheel — even in a relatively small city like Lodi. I constantly witness illegal Uturns, failures to yield, drivers going well below or well above speed limits, failures to stop for school buses with flashing red lights and drivers not yielding to pedestrians.

I've driven over 50 years in most states and have traveled well over a million miles. During this time period, I've been fortunate enough not to have had an accident. But times are changing.

Wishing for the “good old days,” does nothing to alter the reality of what's happening on today’s roads and highways. It is what it is, and discussing how things got that way is of course, basically fruitless.

So the only option available is to drive defensively — as if everyone out there is distracted, impaired, stupid or perhaps all three.

Be cautious about redlight runners — especially in Lodi where signals can change rather quickly and unexpectedly against the flow of traffic.

It's all about accepting reality. When all is said and done, none of us want to end life's journey as an unexpected grill ornament on a Peterbilt gravel hauler.