Wrong Attitude and Lack of Moral Responsibility

Driver’s attitude in driving make cars more dangerous than a gun

It is the driver’s attitude in how they use their car that can make them more dangerous than guns.

A gun has to be loaded before you can use it. Because we know the danger of guns, we are more careful in securing and in using them. It is harder to kill somebody using a gun than a car. Emotionally, we tend to associate guns with death and injury and so tend to be very wary of them.

We Take Cars For Granted

With a car is different...

We take cars for granted. They are there for us to use in any way we want. All it takes to kill an innocent bystander is this nonchalant attitude towards the use of a car. We either do not maintain our cars properly, causing them to crash due to some malfunction, or we drink and drive, or use a cell phone or engage in some other irregular activities while driving – all of which can lead to fatal results.

Car Accidents Are Entirely Preventable

Take your driving responsibilities seriously

It is all a matter of attitude in taking our responsibilities as a motor vehicle driver seriously
Current reports of auto accident reveal that the drivers involved in accidents are “most likely distracted, tired or possibly drunk.”

In more than half of all car accidental deaths in the US, the victims were found not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash
Even though the law mandates the wearing of seat belts, a vast majority of people choose to disregard this safety measure and end up dead. This is nothing but a flagrant disregard for their own safety and that of others.

Statistics show that numerous accidents are caused by people talking to other passengers, or “tinkering” with the radio or CD players while driving
A huge percentage is because of eating or drinking, and 25% of car accidents are caused due to using cell phones while driving.

Lets View a Video on "Driver Distractions" (Courtesy of Manitoba Insurance).

As Dangerous as a Loaded Gun, if Not Operated Properly

The law takes a serious view of a driver's responsibilities when operating a vehicle.

Although courts in the USA do not equate motor vehicles with guns when they are used as they are intended to be, motor vehicles when used as a weapon, whether intentionally or unintentionally (through negligence), and firearms are equally effective weapons.

In this respect the law takes a serious view of the responsibility of a driver in operating a vehicle, and car collisions usually carry legal consequences in proportion to the severity of the accident.

Parties involved in car accidents may face criminal liability, civil liability, or both, especially if some one is severely injured or killed, or if one of the drivers involved was clearly grossly negligent, intoxicated or otherwise impaired at the time the accident happened.

You could be charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, assault with a deadly weapon, manslaughter, or murder; penalties can be fines, jail time and/or prison time.

Another form of liability involves administrative fines or license suspension/revocation imposed by civil or criminal courts when a driver has violated the rules of the road and thus the terms of a driver’s license. Driving is a privilege, not a right, and carries heavy responsibilities, and penalties if this privilege is abused.

Let's Look At the Legal Implications

Legal consequences when involved in a vehicle collision

Drivers who are involved in a collision are liable for one or more traffic citations. If convicted, you are usually penalized with fines, license suspension or revocation, jail time and/or mandatory alcohol rehabilitation, community services, and installation of interlocking devices if the driver is convicted of DUI.

Charged with felony if somebody is killed in a collision

In some states, any person who causes the death of another person by a vehicle commits the offense of homicide by vehicle in the first degree and, and upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than 15 years.

In addition, these states stipulate that "a person commits the offense of feticide by vehicle in the first degree if he or she causes the death of an unborn child by any injury to the mother of such child, and if it resulted in the death of the mother too, he or she would be charged with homicide by vehicle in the first degree . The law further stipulates that a person convicted of the offense of feticide by vehicle in the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than three years nor more than 15 years.

The law in these states also state that any driver who causes the crime of serious injury by vehicle, if convicted shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year nor more than 15 years.

You will be extremely dangerous to human life to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both. If you drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or both, and as a result, a person is killed, you can be charged with a homicide.

Note: These criminal laws with respect to killing a person when driving vary among the 50 states, some with more severe punishments and some with less severe punishments. What ever the punishment doled out, a homicide undertaken while driving are classified as a felony and stays in your driving record for life in all the states concerned. The punishment is always jail time with fine

Safe Driving is a Matter of Attitude and Ethics

Driving is obviously more than just learning how to handle a car and knowing the law down to its letter.

The truth is that safe driving is a matter of attitude and ethics. To be a responsible driver you have to have the right ethics and attitudes about driving.

Driving is a Privilege to be Treated with Due Respect

Driving for pleasure or driving to kill???

Driving a car can be a pleasurable experience or it can turn you into a monster, a killer with no respect for life.

Driving is an essential skill and activity, it encompasses all our lifestyles and daily tasks, but you need to think before, and while you are driving and act responsibly.

Parking is a Responsibility

Parking inappropiately can also kill

Use Your Car In A Responsible Manner. Being a responsible driver does not mean only to abstain from all the above irregular activities while driving. It also means using the vehicle itself in a responsible manner.

Driving safely includes how and where you park your car. In particular, you must ensure that you park your vehicle so that it will not roll away on a hill, and that you do not impede traffic or pedestrians.

Obey the Literal Interpretation of Everyday Laws

Although it May not Seem Important to Strictly Obey Everyday Laws, It is Important to Do So

Traffic laws are promulgated for our safety

Traffic laws are promulgated for the safety of everyone. They are based on carefully researched information and statistics.

Why Stop Completely at Stop Signs?

Treat an intersection as a dangerous place

A stop sign means that you stop fully behind the limit line, crosswalk or at the corner.
Most accidents occur at intersections, resulting in millions of dollars of damage, injuries and deaths.

Choosing to stop completely could mean the difference between life and death!

What Does “Yield” Really Mean?

Yield, event if it is your right-of-way to avoid a collision

Failure to yield the right-of-way to other drivers is one of the top 5 causes of accidents in the U.S.

Yield means to let other drivers, pedestrians and bicycles already in the intersection have the right-of-way before you proceed. Sadly, thousands of accidents, which could have been avoided, are caused each year by drivers failing to yield the right-of-way.

Remember that Right-of-Way is to be Given and Not Taken.

Again, simply following the letter of the law could save you and other innocent bystanders, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists or motorists a lot of pain and suffering.

View a Video on "Proper Yielding Procedures" (Courtesy of Manitoba Insurance).