The road work, the stop-and-go traffic and the waning hours of daylight are reminders a little planning ahead can save drivers a lot of frustration when their day is slowed to a crawl on the road. While it may be tempting to pass that long line of traffic or speed through the construction zone, breaking the rules is not a smart idea. It could end up costing you money and time — if not more — in the long run.
Take a deep breath. You know what to do.
Drive the posted speed limit.
Slow down when weather and road conditions dictate.
Do not pass in a no-passing zone.
Never, ever pass a school bus that has its lights flashing and its "stop arm" extended.
Wear your seat belt — and make sure any passengers in your vehicle do the same.
Do not drive when you are tired.
Do not drive while under the influence.
Be wary of distractions while driving. Eating or talking on the cell phone while behind the wheel means you are not giving your full attention to what's happening on the road.
The rules of the road are designed to protect, not hassle or frustrate. Traffic enforcement is not some government scheme designed to raise money from poor, unsuspecting motorists. Troopers and police have better things to do than pull speeding drivers over and give them a ticket.
Parents would do well to remember that studies show kids pick up their parents' bad driving habits. Do you really want them speeding through town? Do you want them to think that stopping behind a school bus is a major inconvenience? Don't you want them to get where they're going — even if that means arriving a few minutes late?
The numbers show highway safety isn't some goody-two-shoes issue. The Alaska Highway Safety Office reports there were 14,127 traffic crashes, 6,543 nonfatal traffic injuries and 89 deaths on state roads in 2001, the most recent year complete statistics were available. The number of highway deaths in Alaska was up to 95 last year.
Most accidents could be avoided if people did what they were supposed to do, including treating driving like a full-time job. Unfortunately, drivers get complacent and comfortable with breaking the rules because they've done it so many times without any consequences.
Why take a chance? Allow yourself more time to get from Point A to Point B. Enjoy the view that visitors travel from all over the world to see. But don't get caught gawking — there will be a long line of drivers behind you, all in a hurry to get to the next thing on their to-do lists.
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