This is an intersection in a Syracuse, NY suburb, not far from an onramp for Route 81.  There are two busy lanes of southbound traffic, through which other cars turn into and out of cross streets.  It is a bad intersection that becomes more so at lunch time on weekdays.

The intersection of Buckley and Elwood Davis in Liverpool, NY, 
facing South.

One of the biggest problems at this intersection is that drivers traversing the two lanes to get to cross streets often cannot see oncoming cars in the inner lane.  A woman driving a Pontiac Grand Am entered a gap in the inner lane, probably waved in by another driver.  An SUV shooting up the gap in the inner lane struck her, "t-boning" the Grand Am.

The badly damaged Grand Am facing North.  A moment's inattention
ruined a beautiful Friday afternoon for more than one driver.

The Grand Am spun around, struck a blue Geo Metro waiting at the stop sign of the cross street, and ended up facing North on the shoulder of the inner lane.

Geo Metro sitting at cross street where it was struck.

The Metro, of course, is a tiny car.  Had this one been hit directly, the results might have been quite horrific.  As it was, it did not appear to have been moved much by the impact -- it looked as if the driver simply got out of his car, leaving it where he'd been waiting at the stop sign (visible at left behind the Subaru).

The Metro driver is lucky this was a glancing blow.  The car was
dwarfed by the other vehicles involved in the crash.

The most significant fact surrounding this accident, however, is that the SUV shows almost no damage at all.  Photos depicting the broken Grand Am in this article do not depict all of the damage, but it's obvious the vehicle suffered significant impact trauma.  The SUV, by comparison, has a bent license plate and a scraped bumper.  There may be other damage not visible in this photo, but for the SUV this was little more than a fender-bender.

The Martialist is devoted to success in self-defense.  You will never face more potential attackers, more human beings whose behavior could cause you physical harm, than when you are behind the wheel of an automobile. So-called "road rage" is a real concern, but most of the problems each of us faces on the road are caused by a simple lack of defensive driving.

You will read more than once on these pages that the most important component of self-defense is awareness.  This does not change when you are sitting behind the wheel of your car, feeling protected by its bulk and its relative power.  If anything, awareness becomes more significant, as the greater speeds at which you travel and the potential for catastrophic error while driving increase the stakes.

When driving, follow these simple principles:

Trust no one. The driver of a car signaling a turn cannot be trusted to take that turn.  Don't put yourself in the path of an oncoming vehicle, or try to shoot around a vehicle you think will turn, until it actually starts its turn.

Be patient.  Get frustrated or try to rush and you will take reckless shortcuts.  Often you will get away with these -- but the SUV driver learned quickly that his speed was too great for the conditions in which he was driving, as he had too little time to react when the Grand Am appeared in front of him.  Particularly when dealing with multiple lanes, give yourself room and time to deal with vehicles not traveling in anticipated patterns.

It is probably not personal.  Most people are not thinking about you.  Most people do not care about you and have not noticed you.  When another driver does something stupid in traffic, don't automatically see it as an affront to your sacred honor.  It probably wasn't intentional -- because the driver probably doesn't know or care that you're there or that you're annoyed.

See everything.  Don't ever turn or change lanes on faith or the evidence of your mirrors alone.  "Put your head on a swivel" and try to see everything you possible can.  Verify with a glance out your windows that nothing and no one occupies your blind spots.  Scan nearby lanes, yards, shoulders, and sidewalks.  Watch for pedestrians entering the road.  Be particularly aware of motorcycles, which are very hard to see during the day.

Obey the law.  Traffic laws exist for a reason.  They are often irritating, but you will be much safer if you adhere to them.  From wearing your seatbelt to obeying posted speed limits to avoiding illegal turns, staying legal is a great step towards staying safe.

At least one person was carried to a waiting ambulance
on a gurney.  This could happen any time, to anyone.

The chances that you will be involved in an automotive accident are fare greater than the chances that you will be attacked by knife-wielding thugs or challenged to a Kung Fu death match by scowling representatives of a rival school.  Keep this in mind -- and keep it in perspective.  Be aware when you drive -- and drive defensively.  Self-defense principles extend to all areas of your life.