GUEST COLUMNIST

SGT. E.J. TALBOT You may be familiar with the disturbing statistic that more than 1,000 people die on our state's roadways each year. What you may not know are the common mistakes people make behind the wheel and the "insider tips" for preventing these fatal mistakes. The good news about motor vehicle collisions is that you have control over most of the factors that could cause you to die behind the wheel.

I have been a South Carolina state trooper for 16 years. I am also a certified driving instructor at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. I teach new troopers going through Highway Patrol school, but I also help keep seasoned troopers up to speed, ensuring that they still have the reaction time and skills to deal with the dangerous driving situations they will face in the course of their duties.

I'm sure you've heard safety experts say, there are few true "accidents." That's because an accident is something out of the driver's control - such as an animal jumping into your vehicle's path. Most collisions, however, are the result of inexperienced or careless drivers, poor judgment, risky behavior or aggressive driving.

Most people blame the problems on our roadways on "the other guy." What they may not know is that the majority of the collisions we investigate are due to driver error and often involve only one vehicle. It may surprise you to know that the single greatest danger you face on the roadway is YOU.

Fatal collisions sadly are replays of the same tragic scene again and again. The driver veers off the roadway due to speed, fatigue, inattention or impairment from drugs or alcohol. As soon as the tires drop off the pavement, the driver panics and jerks the steering wheel, often braking at the same time. This causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The scene usually ends with the vehicle on the opposite side of the road after striking a tree, a culvert or other object. Driver status: Ejected, no seat belt. A disproportionate amount of time, the driver is an 18-34 year old male.

Here are some common driving scenarios and ways to avoid a crash.

OVERCORRECTION: What happens if you run off the roadway? Don't panic. It's that instinctive reaction to jerk the vehicle back onto the pavement that usually causes the collision. Remember the off/off rule. Take your foot off the accelerator and keep it off the brake. Gently glide the vehicle back onto the pavement when it is safe to do so.

STOPPED TRAFFIC: Always scan ahead. This can help avoid head-on collisions as well as collisions brought on by sudden lane changes or stops. It is imperative to keep a good distance between yourself and other vehicles. If traffic slows, keep your eyes on your rearview mirror to ensure the cars behind you are responding to the slowdown.

TIRES: Tire pressure and good tire tread, your vehicle's tires are no better than a set of water skis. If you do have a blowout, don't slam on your brakes. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel with both hands and let the vehicle coast to a stop, well off the main traveled portion of the roadway. Do not suddenly decrease your speed as this may cause you to lose control. If attempting to change a flat tire along the roadway, make sure you are off the roadway as far as possible and activate your emergency flashers. Continue to monitor your surroundings. If you are in South Carolina, you may call *47 (*HP) for assistance from the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

INTERSECTIONS/STOP LIGHTS: When approaching intersections or stop lights - even if you have the right of way - always slow down and scan the area for vehicles disregarding the signal. Failure to yield the rightof way is one of the primary causes of fatal collisions.

AVOID "RUBBERNECKING" AT A COLLISION SCENE: Slow your speed, change to the lane farthest from the incident. Watch for pedestrian activity, emergency personnel and debris.

IF YOU ARE IN A COLLISION: Remember that you will likely be disoriented by this traumatic event. Observe your surroundings before exiting your vehicle. Don't step into the path of other traffic. Don't sit in your vehicle in the middle of a busy road, erroneously thinking you have to wait until a law enforcement officer arrives. Move your vehicle out of traffic and into a safe location if there are no serious injuries. This is the law. Get yourself as far away from traffic as possible. And activate your emergency flashers.

I hope you will share these "insider" tips with others -especially young, inexperienced drivers. If you would like more driving tips or a trooper to present a "practical driving safety presentation," to your organization, call (803) 896-7920 and ask for the Community Relations Office.