One might think this a silly question but, of all the Road Hazards we will inevitably encounter, many will turn out to be another driver we’re bopping along with.  One of the best ways to gain an edge as to which of those drivers might be a serious Road Hazard is to profile the type of vehicle they’re likely to be driving in. Profiling has helped keep this driver out of harm’s way – far more than once!

Before going any further we should revisit the definition of a Road Hazard.  A Road Hazard is not yet an emergency requiring immediate evasive action.  Rather, it is something that could quickly become such an emergency.  The obvious reason to identify Road Hazards is simple.  It’s much easier to avoid them while they’re still Road Hazards, than it is to avoid them when they become urgent Road Emergencies.  The objective of profiling, then, is to identify them before they even become obvious Road Hazards.  Hmm!  Who wouldn’t want that kind of edge!

It often seems that drivers with certain skill levels or lack of same, are often drawn to certain types of cars.  While a majority of vehicles will attract drivers within a whole range of driving skills, certain makes or models seem to attract drivers with similar driving traits and some of those driving traits may be loosely defined as “Road Hazard at any speed”.  These are the puppies we want to profile.  What are the cars these drivers tend to choose?

We’re not going to name any specific vehicles here for a number of reasons, (Do I drive one?) but profiling these puppies really gets pretty basic.  The next time you see a vehicle demonstrating a specific trait that could be hazardous, make a mental note of the make, brand or type of the vehicle.  If, over time you continue to see the same vehicle exhibiting the same traits, you’ll soon have your own really neat and personal profiles – of cars to be aware of.  You may soon find that your newly minted profiles break down in to three basic categories.

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The first is the erratic driver, or more specifically, the car he will be driving in.  This driver may drive slow or be moving right along in traffic but his common trait seems to be that he can make sudden, unanticipated movements when least expected.  It may be a lane invasion.  Perhaps a sudden stop.  Perhaps he suddenly slows down for no reason, leaving you inches from his rear bumper when you thought you had twenty car lengths of space between you.  Whatever he does, it’s unexpected.  He’s a Road Hazard when you see him.  When he makes his unexpected move, he can quickly develop into a Road Emergency.

Your next profile could be the fast and aggressive, but actually quite skilled driver – and she’s not always bopping along in a Corvette or Mustang.  This driver will buzz right on by you, but she’ll probably do it in such a way that you couldn’t hit her if you tried.  The distinguishing feature of these drivers is that they are skilled and generally safe drivers.  They may be fast – but they’re “smooth fast”.

 If you should see one of these bad girls coming, it would be prudent to kinda’ stay put where you are.  If you should suddenly make an unexpected move while she’s zinging up behind you, zipping quickly past you, or zapping back into your lane as she passes, it’s not going to be pretty.  (Zinging, zipping, zapping – I like that!)  Anyhow, profiles 1 and 2 very definitely do not mix!  What brand of car does Profile 2 drive?  I’ve got my list.  Let’s see what you come up with!

Finally, there’s the third Profile.  This puppy doesn’t mix with anybody.  He’s fast and aggressive with driving skills that shouldn’t be allowed outside of the driveway.  This guy thinks he’s a great driver but his driving skills make you wonder how he’s even keeping it on the road.    You also wonder how this guy could even still be alive.  In fact, many of these Profiles are quite simply not alive any longer! 

Yours is still breathing though and it’s only because he relies completely on the skill of other drivers to get out of his way and avoid impact.  Now you’ve been elected as one of those lucky “other drivers”.  You want to get as far out of his way as possible and be ready to dodge him  if he comes at you.  Let him kill a tree or hopefully something else that doesn't breath.  Do these threats drive certain types of cars?  Hmmm!

Inherent in all this “profiling of cars as Road Hazards” stuff, is judicious use of your rear view mirrors. Too often, when we search for Road Hazards, we tend to focus on what’s out there in front of us.  “What are we going to hit?”  When watching for rolling Road Hazards it’s just as likely they’ll first loom large in those shiny little mirror things that we use to shave – or hopefully also to see what’s behind us.  What's going to hit us?

Once you’ve developed your own vehicle profiles, it is important to remember that not all drivers of those vehicles will fit your profile traits.  Drivers in other vehicles may very well still be unidentified hazards with the above noted traits.  You may want to watch your targeted profile for awhile though, and consider it “instant Road Hazard until proven otherwise”! 

Profiling the other cars on the road with you and the way they behave is an “odds” game.  It gives you a “heads up”.  It puts the odds in your favor.  And who wouldn't like better odds when driving!