We all want to feel free, and nothing makes us feel freer than getting into our cars and speeding away from our worries. We utilize our cars for more than just commuting; we use them as an emotional instrument as well, and this is serious business. Let’s face it, our automobile was created to get us from point A to point B, not to be flaunted like a Rolex watch! What’s going on here? No, it’s not true?
That original concept vanished when we let our desire to buy vehicles be controlled by vanity. Driving is a skill that we use throughout our lives, but we often forget that it must improve in order for us to stay safe. A friendly reminder that driving is the riskiest activity that most Americans engage in on a daily basis. Every American knows someone who has been hurt in a car accident, and cars kill about as many people as guns each year and injure millions more.
When you’re staring out the window at the wide road while listening to your favorite music, you get that sensation of sheer excitement and joy. There are also the unsaid butterflies that you get when you drive to a pleasurable or celebratory destination. Can we agree that your emotions account for 80% of your driving experience? If this were not the case, road rage would not exist?

Let’s be honest for a moment:

Driving is serious business and a public health catastrophe in any year, and the pandemic has simply exacerbated the problem. Despite the fact that Americans have been driving less in recent years, the number of people killed in car accidents (both occupants and pedestrians) has increased.
According to a preliminary projection from the National Safety Council, cars would kill 42,060 people by 2022, up from 39,107 in 2019. (NSC). Even though the number of miles driven by car reduced by 13% from the previous year, this number grew. It’s the largest single-year increase in US car fatality rates in in a century, with 2021 sealing the deal, and we haven’t even considered teen drivers. But why is that? According to some experts, the pandemic is changing traffic patterns due to panic and emotional stress.

All of this isn’t unavoidable

Traffic safety professionals are aware of the policy changes that are required to address the issue. The continued rise of pandemic-era automobile mortality should draw national attention to the need to put them in place.
We all know that car accidents are not only dangerous, but also lethal. We just don’t talk about it much, but it’s serious business and we need to. So, let’s take a few minutes today to learn the serious business of the fundamentals of car accidents.
It begins with a grasp of Newton’s law of motion, which states that a body in motion will remain in motion until an equal but opposite force is applied to all static conditions, with force equal to the mass of the object multiplied by its acceleration. Basically, if you strike anything while going at a particular speed, you, the driver, and all passengers will continue to move toward the crash location even if the car has slowed or stopped. Simply put, you and your passengers will be injured.
We haven’t paid much attention to Newton’s rule as everyday drivers, but we have been eating a lot of fig newtons, which are tasty but not very useful when it comes to staying alive. It’s time to learn about the three sorts of crashes so you can assess the severity of your injuries following an automobile accident.

The Three Types of Collisions.

In a car accident, there are three types of collisions: vehicle collision, human collision, and internal collision. If you’re aware of the three collisions and the risks, you’ll be able to better understand where and how your injuries occur. A sequence of mishaps occur, each of which can cause a variety of devastating injuries.

FIRST COLLISION: (VEHICLE)

The initial collision occurs when a vehicle collides with another item, which is most commonly linked with an automobile accident. The vehicle decelerates abruptly as it crushes owing to the collision forces. Humans are not completely protected, even though modern automobiles have safety measures that absorb a considerable percentage of the kinetic energy.
While automobile accident injuries differ from one individual to the next, there are a few that are quite typical. The following are some of the most prevalent injuries:

Back and Head injuries

Head injuries can occur when drivers collide with the steering wheel, roof, or windshield. A concussion is a common injury that you may suffer. Your brain bounces about inside your skull during a concussion, triggering chemical changes in your brain.
The most devastating injuries in an accident are back and spinal cord injuries, which expose your spine to being twisted or forced out of position. It’s possible that your backbones will be shattered. This could exacerbate your spinal cord injury, which can lead to a loss of feeling or function in severe situations.

Neck injuries

Neck injuries, often known as whiplash, are common in rear- or side-impact collisions that force your neck to snap suddenly. The injuries might range from a little neck strain to a complete spine dislocation.

SECOND COLLISION: (HUMAN)

The “human collision” is the name given to the second collision. Despite the fact that the vehicle’s kinetic energy has been diminished since the first impact, the human body continues to travel at the same speed and direction as the car until it collides with anything that causes the forward motion to come to a halt. Seat belts save lives by preventing people from doing things they wouldn’t be able to do if they weren’t wearing them. The human collision is serious business and will most likely be on the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, or back of a seat if a passenger is not wearing a seatbelt.
Passengers may also sustain injuries as a result of loose or flying objects in the car. Injuries can be caused by little items such as pens, telephones, or other small personal goods. Place any large goods, such as luggage, in the trunk of your vehicle. If you need something from the passenger compartment, look behind the driver’s or passenger’s seat.
Some of the common injuries that can occur include:

Facial injuries

Hitting the airbag, steering wheel or any other part of the car or flying objects can injure facial skin, teeth, and bones underneath.

Collarbone

Thankfully, we have seat belts to assist keep our entire body safe. However, if the weight of your body can swiftly press forward against the shoulder belt in a significant accident. This can result in a collarbone injury, as well as rib injury in more severe cases.

Lower extremity injuries

Your seatbelt will protect you from injury to your lower extremities. Your legs may collide with the dash and/or steering column if you are not wearing a seatbelt. Knee, foot, and leg sprains, muscle or tendon injury, and bone breaks are all common ailments.

THIRD COLLISION: (INTERNAL)

In a car accident, the body may be damaged, even if it is not evident. This is the internal collision, which is the third collision. Even after the body has come to a complete halt, internal organs continue to move during a collision. Internal organs may collide with other organs or the skeleton. There’s a danger the liver, spleen, heart, or other organs will be torn, damaged, and/or hemorrhage if the car collides with a concrete barrier. Internal collisions are frequently the source of significant damage or death. Because internal injuries may not be visible right away, it’s advisable to consult a doctor right away after a car accident, even if you feel OK. The individuals in the vehicle can be badly hurt regardless of how big or tiny the incident appears to be.

The following are some examples of internal injuries that can occur:

• Broken ribs
• Organ injury
• Internal bleeding
• Abdominal aorta aneurysm
• Ruptured spleen

Internal injuries are risky for a variety of reasons. Internal injuries, for example, can quickly escalate into life-threatening situations if left untreated. Organs such as the liver, heart, and spleen can be damaged or torn when they collide with one another or other body surfaces. The brain might be damaged or torn if it hits the inside of the skull or if it hits a fractured part of the skull.
So, why go into such graphic detail about car accidents when we already know everything there is to know about them? We may be aware of it, but we certainly don’t drive as if we care! Rubbernecking when crawling by an automobile accident demonstrates a lack of understanding of what causes car accidents and, more importantly, how dangerous driving can be.
It’s been said that it’s not you who we’re concerned about; it’s the other drivers! Guess what, when that advice is provided, it works both ways, so who are we really fooling?

You must have control of your emotions and behavior

Practice defensive driving tactics, and accept responsibility for all your driving decisions in order to adopt a safe driving mindset.
Emotions is a term that describes emotions such as rage, fear, and joy. Emotions can alter the way you estimate risk and make driving judgments if you let them. When you are affected by powerful emotions like rage, your capacity to make sound decisions may be impaired, increasing your chances of making a mistake. You can be so absorbed with your anger that you miss critical events in a driving situation or misunderstand the risks involved.
Always be conscious of your mental state. Examine yourself objectively and determine if you have the focus and awareness required to operate a motor vehicle safely. Wait if you have any doubts. Allow yourself time to relax and focus on safe driving. Make it a habit to practice avoiding road rage episodes. You can expect some emotional stress in your everyday driving. Learning to manage it is important for your safety and the safety of others:

• Take a short stroll, write down your sentiments, or talk to a friend if you are angry and enthusiastic before getting behind the wheel.
• No matter what else is going on in your life, when you get behind the wheel, resolve to focus solely on driving until you get safely at your destination.
• Allow plenty of time to get at your destination to avoid becoming frustrated by red lights or excessive traffic.
• Recognize that many aspects of driving, such as traffic and other drivers’ conduct, are beyond of your control.
• When driving in hazardous conditions, keep your cool.

Part of having a safe driving attitude is consistently practicing defensive driving techniques:

• Make sure your car is in good working order; wear your seatbelt and make sure your passengers do as well.
• Choose a speed that is appropriate for the conditions; and, whenever possible, use a space cushion all around your vehicle.
• Observe the actions of all other road users, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
• Observe the road ahead, behind, and on both sides of your vehicle.
• Anticipate issues early and choose the best course of action if the worst happens.

Accepting responsibility for our choices is serious business and a crucial aspect of growing up. It shows maturity and trustworthiness to be willing to do so. You must be willing to assume responsibility for all your driving judgments while you drive. Other drivers can’t make you act a certain way; it’s up to you to decide how you react to their behaviors. Regardless of what other drivers do, you must train yourself to prioritize safety.
Driver training includes the development of a safe driving attitude; if you haven’t done so since the beginning of your driving career, it’s never too late to start, and you’re never too old to empower yourself to keep yourself and others safe on the road. Who knows, you may save a life, yours included.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS THE UNKNOWN WHEN YOU GET EMPOWERED AND TRAIN YOUR FEARS.