For PacifiCare Champ Car racer Bruno Junquiera, sudden slowdowns, rapid speed changes and unexpected delays are all part of a day’s work.
While maneuvering through tight turns and narrow lanes, blocking out distractions and staying focused on the track is crucial to winning the race.
The same techniques that allow Junquiera to conquer ever-changing conditions on the racetrack can be applied by average motorists to their everyday driving.
Bay Area roadways can be a challenge, often snarled by traffic. A new study by the American Highway Users Alliance found that one of the most congested intersections in the nation is the U.S. 101 and Interstate 880 interchange in San Jose.
As traffic slows to a crawl, drivers become distracted and lose their focus on the road. To make matters worse, in slow traffic other motorists become angered by preoccupied drivers, thus becoming sidetracked themselves.
“When stuck in heavy traffic, avoid excessive lane changes,” said Greg Cohen, senior vice president of the American Highway Users Alliance. “Changing lanes multiple times only frustrates the drivers stuck behind you and adds to the congestion.”
Junquiera, a competitive racer since age 6, said, “Heavy traffic often leads people to divert their attention, become impatient and engage in improper activities. The number of accidents and angry drivers can be reduced by following some simple rules.”
According to a recent study by the Automobile Association of America, people drive distracted roughly 16 percent of the time.
Heavy traffic often results in unfocused drivers creating stress and road rage in others.
In conjunction with its role as the “Official Health Care Provider” of the Champ Car World Series (formerly CART), PacifiCare offers the following tips for distracted drivers:
1. Don’t apply makeup, comb your hair or shave while driving.
2. Wait until you arrive at your destination to use your cell phone.
3. Don’t search for a CD or take your eyes off the road to change radio stations.
4. To avoid spills, ensure coffee and other beverages are not filled to the top of the container.
5. Plan your trip ahead of time and don’t read, write or navigate maps while at the wheel.
6. Avoid staring at accidents or disabled cars on the side of the road.
7. Wait until you reach your destination before working on a tie or putting on earrings.
8. Don’t watch television while driving.
9. When traffic slows to a crawl, avoid the temptation of reaching for one of the many distracting activities available.
Junquiera said that the most important part of a driver’s commute is arriving safely at his or her destination.
Remaining focused on the road enables drivers to avoid unnecessary accidents and delays.
Drivers engaging in distracting activities only slow the rate of travel for everyone and further contribute to the Bay Area’s congestion problem.
