Rushed Driving Causes Crashes — Patience Prevents Them

Fall is finally here, school is back in session, and buses are carrying kids to and from classes where they’ll read some very important stories, many of which you probably remember from your own childhood. That’s why we think you’ll certainly recognize the wise words, “slow and steady wins the race,” advice which comes from a classic piece of children’s literature called The Tortoise and the Hare. Like many such tales, the classic Aesop’s fable recounting a legendary contest between two very different animals has much to teach young readers in terms of valuable life lessons.

For our purposes, though, the most important lesson is that by following this story’s advice — along with some important morals from a few other classic children’s stories — you can definitely help reduce the risk of causing or becoming otherwise involved in a life-altering car crash. Let’s take a moment to explain what we mean and perhaps in the process we can help more drivers of all ages throughout Michigan reach their destinations safe and sound every time.

Re-reading The Tortoise and the Hare and other

pieces of children’s literature can help save your life!

You might recall the gist of that short but enlightening children’s tale: an arrogant rabbit and humble turtle agree to hold a race after the rabbit taunts the turtle about its perpetually slow pace. The rabbit, knowing (of course it does!) that it’s going to cross the finish line far ahead of its stodgy acquaintance, runs the race in fits and starts, making rest stops and finally falling asleep near the end of the route, ultimately losing the race to the tenacious turtle which has simply proceeded at its regular (albeit lethargic) pace. Some key lessons this fable imparts to children are that misplaced confidence is unwise, that humility is an honorable trait, and that regular hard work can pay off over time. But there are also important psychological lessons here for drivers to internalize!

That’s because this same kind of scene – where impatient drivers constantly race forward and then slow down, moving along the road in painful fits and starts – unfolds on highways and byways across Michigan day in and day out. Those annoying stop-and-go drivers continually rush up behind folks who are going the speed limit, then have to forcefully apply their brakes, even sometimes attempting to get to their destinations faster by taking such risky actions as flashing their headlights, angrily blowing their horns, or passing other drivers illegally by crossing double yellow lines. In the process, these wannabe road racers endanger innocent people in oncoming vehicles – not to mention the law-abiding folks they’re following and even the blameless passengers in their very own vehicles.

Yes, it can be painful to follow a school bus dropping off or picking up kids, or to be trapped behind a slower driver on the way to or from work. But our advice for everyone here is to take a breath, take your foot off the gas, and get to where you’re going safely. Seriously ask yourself: is it worth losing your life, or taking the lives of others, to reach your destination five minutes early, or to avoid being a few moments late? We didn’t think so! In other words, if you want to live a long and happy life, be more like a tortoise and less like a hare.

But, unfortunately, irresponsible drivers channeling the proverbial self-important hare aren’t the only causes of accidents we see in our personal injury law firm’s day-to-day business. That’s why we want to call your attention to a number of other children’s “fables” that offer ideas we could all take to heart while we’re driving, to help prevent tragic accidents and possibly save innocent lives.

These aren’t just fairytales – they’re life lessons

that can make our roads safer for everyone!

Here are just a few more childhood stories to keep in mind as you make your daily commute, drive the kids to school, head for an afternoon at the mall, or take a trip up north for a relaxing weekend sojourn. Read on and maybe you’ll be inspired to share them with the children and other loved ones in your life!

The Lion and the Rabbit – in this Indian fairy tale, an angry lion is fooled into jumping into a well and drowning after being told by a clever rabbit (one much smarter than the hare that lost the race to the tortoise!) that a rival lion has been attempting to take over its designated part of the jungle. After seeing its own fierce reflection glaring back from the bottom of a well, the hapless lion leaps in to fight its imaginary opponent… and, of course, drowns itself! The lesson here, of course, is that unchecked anger can cause drivers to make rash decisions, leading to road rage (like this recent tragedy in Macomb County) and causing innumerable accidents and fatalities. So try not to let other bad drivers – or slow traffic – get under your skin. Check out this article courtesy of our friends in the city of Brighton for good advice on keeping your cool even if you’re running late or are caught behind a “Sunday driver” who isn’t going the speed limit.

The Fox and the Bramble – another Aesop’s fable in which a not-so-sly fox wasn’t paying attention to its surroundings and fell into the sharp thorns of a bramble bush. At first the fox blames the innocent plant for causing its pain … until, after contemplating its situation for a while and hearing the bramble’s reminder that it couldn’t move out of the way even if it had wanted to, the fox finally realizes that its own folly has caused it to run into the innocent (albeit thorny) plant. Needless to say, this fable’s lesson is tailor made for all the distracted drivers on Michigan’s roads. Please obey Michigan’s hands-free cell phone law: don’t text while driving, watch out for deer, trees, road signs, pedestrians or other vehicles, and keep your eyes on the road anytime you’re behind the wheel!

The Tale of Peter Klaus – a German folktale (and perhaps an inspiration for Washington Irving’s more famous American story Rip Van Winkle) that recounts what happens after a shepherd drinks excessively and falls into a deep slumber lasting for decades. Of course, this long bout of uninterrupted sleep causes the protagonist to miss out on much of his life, including even the loss of dear friends while he’s unconscious – something that can happen to anyone involved in a serious accident resulting in a traumatic brain injury or coma. The moral of the story for us all to remember is that drinking to excess (or taking drugs) and then driving can lead to tragic outcomes from which you might never recover.

True story: If you are ever injured through

no fault of your own, we’re here to help.

Holding your temper … paying attention behind the wheel … obeying the speed limit … and avoiding alcohol or drug use while driving … are just a few of the many vital lessons we can learn from these and other pieces of classic children’s literature. But sometimes in the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day commute, these crucial messages we learned as kids can sadly be forgotten. So we hope this brief article will help remind you to take them to heart as you take to the highways this fall. Remember, too, that if you ever do end up as an innocent victim of someone who isn’t driving safely and are injured due to their negligence or bad decisions, you have a friend in Southfield, Detroit, Sterling Heights, Lake Orion, Ypsilanti, Wayne, Flint, Waterford, Monroe, Grand Rapids, and everywhere else in Michigan. Call us anytime at 855-MIKE-WINS (855-645-3946) or visit us online to tell us what happened and learn how we can help.