From the time when we started crossing the street in elementary school, we have been told that a green light means “Go”.  This concept has weaved its way into our language in such a way that when someone says “We got the green light to start the project”, we all know what that means.

Unfortunately, a green light does not mean “Go”, it only means that ” it’s your turn”.  It does not mean that it is safe to go.  Yet, people still interpret the green light to mean “Go”.  Last week Michael Phelps, winner of 14 Olympic Gold Medals, had the green light and, as he proceeded through the intersection, he had a collision with a vehicle whose driver, according to police reports, did not obey a red light.  Michael Phelps was lucky.  If the other vehicle had been a semi-tractor trailer truck with a full load, he might have been seriously injured, his career over or he may not have survived at all.

Visually clear every intersection before you go through it.  This is one of the three most important things you can do to become and remain a collision-free driver.  And make sure that you do so by turning your head so that you can expand your peripheral vision.  I cannot overemphasize how important this is and neither can you when you are working with your son or daughter.

I still teach in the vehicle.  Granted, I limit the number of students I am willing to teach, but what I have noticed is how easy it is for the students to slip into a pattern of just moving their eyes slightly as they approach an intersection where they are not required to stop.  This occurs even after they had initially developed a pattern of turning their head to clear the intersection.  It’s as though as their confidence and skill in their ability grows, they feel they can get by without doing all those little things they had to do before.

Intersections are dangerous places.  I do not know Michael Phelps condition at the time of the collision (and from the news and police reports he did not seem to be impaired), but I do know that he did not visually clear that intersection before he entered it.  If he had correctly visually cleared the intersection, he would have avoided the collision.

Well, that about wraps up this post.  Next week I plan to discuss some new laws that go into effect September 1, and hopefully have a surprise feature for you.

Until then…Drive like your life depends on it…because it does.

Sincerely,
Patrick Barrett
Driver Ed in a Box