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BACK TO BASICS: a review of defensive driving techniques
3: Maintaining Space for Life: ESCAPE ROUTES
Another significant aspect of maintaining a space for life is keeping escape routes open so that you have options in case of an emergency. An escape route is a previously considered avenue away from danger: it is not an unplanned or fortuitous avoidance of danger achieved by instincts, reactions, or luck. The scanning techniques discussed in Back to Basics 2: Scanning Techniques, are useful not only to locate potential problems, but also to identify obstructions to your determined pathways to safety. The location and number of escape routes will vary with the driving environment and the immediate circumstances, but it is vitally important that the driver remain acutely aware of them.
In general there are 3 paths of escape: going left, going right, and stopping in time. Whether these options are open in a specific circumstance depend on several factors, some of which are driver controlled, some of which are not. The availability of an avenue of escape may vary with the type of vehicle being driven. For example, it takes less time to stop a small passenger car than it does to stop a van full of children. There may be ample room for an escape path to the right for a small car, but not for an extended van or a bus. The extent, type, and positioning of a vehicle's load also affects both stopping and handling characteristics, thus influencing any potential escape route.
General driving environment also dictates escape potential. City driving is very restricted and normally the means of escape is singular: stopping. Parked cars will normally restrict the swerve-to-the-right option (and even if they are absent there are curbs, parking meters, utility poles, and sidewalks, all closely bordered by buildings). The swerve-to-the-left choice is similarly hampered on one-way streets, and by oncoming traffic on two-way streets. Rural driving may find oncoming traffic hindering access to a left escape, while soft or minimal shoulders, encroaching vegetation, guardrails, ditches, utility poles, fences, etc. may confine access to the right. Even segments of limited access highways have permanent restrictions created by traffic separators, retaining walls, guard rails, entrance and exit ramps, overpass supports, bridge railings, etc. Temporary issues such as inclement weather, congestion, construction, accidents, or vehicles parked beside the roadway can affect your exit potential regardless of the general driving environment encountered.
Like any good habit, establishing escape routes takes practice and is not always easy. However, no matter how significant the obstacles to maintaining some means of escape may seem, it is imperative that a driver always has at least one way of avoiding a potential emergency. If there is no access for avoidance to the left or to the right because of roadway or traffic conditions then following distance (see Back to Basics 4: Following Distance) should be increased so the driver can stop in time to avoid an accident. Only the driver can make the choices that ensure a means of escape thus providing a safe space for life.
ESCAPE ROUTES... A BRIEF RECAP
| Who: |
You...
you cannot rely on your passenger, and you certainly cannot rely on the
other drivers on the road
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| What it is: |
Previously considered avenue away from danger
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Constantly changing because of road and traffic conditions
There are 3 basic choices
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Go right
Go left
Stop in time
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Affected by
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Type of vehicle
Extent and positioning of the vehicleâs load
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| What it isn't: |
Driving without a plan... relying on instincts and reactions
Swerving without checking for obstructions
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| Why: |
To maintain a space for life around your vehicle
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| When: |
Always...constantly monitoring and reconsidering
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| Where: |
Limited-access highways
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Generally have at least go right and stop; may have go left
May be limited by:
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Entrance or exit ramps
Traffic separators
Overpass supports
Bridge or other guardrails
Congestion
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Parked or abandoned vehicles
Construction
Inclement weather conditions
Accidents
Road conditions
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Rural Roads
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Choices are often limited to just stop because of:
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On-coming traffic
Shoulder size or condition
Ditches
Fences or guardrails
Utility poles
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Encroaching vegetation
Construction
Inclement weather conditions
Accidents
Road conditions
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City Streets
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Choices are often limited to just stop because of:
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Oncoming or parallel traffic
Parked vehicles
Sidewalks and pedestrians
Utility poles, parking meters
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Construction
Inclement weather conditions
Accidents
Road conditions
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| How: |
By constant, diligent practice
By assuming nothing and taking nothing for granted
As if your life depended on it... because it does
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