When Does a Safe Toyota Become Dangerous?

Are You Paying Attention?…”Stay In Your Lane Meat-head!”

We all possess in town driving patterns that are predictable. There is a left hand turn that I take everyday, sometimes multiple times a day into my neighborhood that falls in this predictable category. It will help if I can help you visualize what I look at everyday as I approach this left-hand turn. Everyday it gets a little more scary. It is not a matter of if but when someone is going to be hurt and hurt bad.

I Bet You Witness What I Witness Everyday

I make this turn approximately 150 feet from a crest of a small hill, so the oncoming traffic has plenty of time to see me. I have sufficient time to see them coming as well, as their vehicle tops the crest and the road flattens out.  The traffic moves at a constant clip of 45MPH, sometimes a little faster. However speed is not the problem here. Drifting left of center for eight out of ten cars is. Having made this same turn for the last twelve years the frequency of this drifting  has gone from zero to close to 80%.

What has Changed Over the Last Twelve Years to Raise the Risk Level of the Left-hand Turn?

• It is not the vehicle. Cars, trucks, SUV’s are all manufactured safer today than they were in 1998.
• The road I use to make the left hand turn has been widened and improved, it is a safer thoroughfare.
• The weather is the same. Global warming has nothing to do with it.

So that leaves one variable. The driver. Everyday as I watch one car after another drift left of center headed directly for the center of my front grill, I flash my lights to wake them up. If I don’t it could be “curtains”,

The  Definition of a Drifter up to 1998: Tramp_Wanderer_Vagabond_Hobo_Transient_Rolling Stone_Vagrant

Starting in around 2001 a new definition has emerged to define a “Drifter”, Automobile drivers that have a phone held up to their ear, sitting in their lap or in the palm of their hand. These drivers are paying more attention to their phone than they are to the road. As cars continue to improve in safety driving skills seem to diminish in the same proportion.

Today The # 1 Hazard to Your Overall Car Safety

The number one safety issue for any car, truck, SUV or van is the cell phone. Why stop at cars and trucks? Excuse me for being a dim-wit for not mentioning the following,  How about passenger trains, freight trains, airplanes, boats or any piece of machinery that requires your undivided attention to operate.

What Causes More Accidents A Defect in the Car of the Driver?

As manufactures continually upgrade the performance and safety of vehicles they also give the driver a false sense of security.  I came across an interesting point of view about car accidents, asking…..is it the driver or the car?, this is a short but poignant  article by Jon Hamilton, click on this link.http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123610366&sc=17&f=1001

When Does A Safe Car Become Dangerous?

Recently Toyota had a recall on various different models concerning a possible “sticky peddle” that could cause a sudden and unsafe boost in acceleration. This defect has been confirmed in less than 20 cars worldwide. To maintain Toyota’s long tradition of building safe cars the manufacturer decided to recall every car made that in any way shape or form could be affected by this malfunction. A blanket recall regardless if any Toyota sold had the defect or not, Right now Toyota is upgrading 50,000 cars a day. That is how you keep a safe car, safe.

As a Toyota dealer my first duty is to serve our local customer needs first, and then any Toyota customer worldwide  thereafter. If you have any questions or if can provide any help call me at 918-333-0900. I have and will always be proud to represent the Toyota Corporation.

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