Bargaining With The Devil
Road Safety
Do you know why road traffic crashes occur? They don’t occur because drivers don’t know the rules, or what is right. They occur because drivers choose to negotiate with risk and the devil? Are you one of such drivers who daily negotiate with risk and the devil?? The risk may be any infraction or might be how you deal with other road users or even traffic policemen who sometimes nauseate.
How often do you negotiate with risk and how often do you face other risky road users? A learner driver or an articulated truck driver who might be under the influence of all kinds of substances as well as a crazy traffic officer; one you do not trust. Daily or once in a while?
Or how often do you have to deal with conflicts-when you are facing adversaries with a trust deficit, who may harm you or who you may feel is evil or crazy? That is why I am today giving Professor Fred all the flowers he deserves for this piece. He was the one who drew my attention to Bargaining with the Devil: When to negotiate, When to Fight by Robert Mnookin. The book explores the emotional, moral and strategic trap to avoid and the need to make wise decisions about whether to negotiate or fight.
What this simply means is for you to avoid making a deal that gives you a short time benefit but will likely cost you something serious which might be your morals, integrity or even life. It simply implies knowingly accepting a risk or wrongdoing which consequences may be hidden, delayed or severe.
The moral of the book is applicable in politics, business, personal life as well as driving. Its core is about trade-offs in whatever situation you find yourself in . One apt real-life example is taking a bribe to solve a problem thereby gaining an immediate benefit with the risk of a future legal battle, shame or loss of reputation later.
Today, I wish to guide you on applying ‘’bargaining with the devil’’ to daily driving as we navigate the risky decisions behind the wheels. I am talking about those small choices where you gain convenience but quietly accept danger or future consequences. In our daily driving, bargaining with the devil means choosing speed, convenience or impatience over safety while hoping nothing goes wrong. When you do this, you are simply saying that you know this is risky, but you will get away with it.
Before we navigate daily real-life driving examples, let me remind you that this week has been really tragic. First in no particular order, was the report of the tragic- six feared dead as petrol tanker lost control in Ibadan, followed by the report of a UK returner who died in a Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash en-route Abeokuta for wedding as well as that of a Nigerian graduate killed by a hit and run driver in the US. These tragedies call for strict emphasis on safety above all.
For the sake of clarity, I intend to examine our habit of running a red light, speeding within city-centers and highways, use of phones while driving ignoring seat belts or safety rules, as well as driving under stress, anger or fatigue. Running a red light is a worrying infraction in major cities and was my focus a fortnight ago captioned, GREEN MAN.
When the red-light signals stop, and instruct that you wait for the green light but you choose to ignore the signal and instead run a red light, the bargain for running a red, is to save a few seconds, while the cost is the high risk of deadly collision. If you read my Green Man piece, I highlighted the truth that intersections are one of the most dangerous points on the road. Failure to obey traffic signals by both drivers and pedestrians is a major contributor to fatal crashes.
For freaks who indulge in excessive speed when they are late for an appointment or work, the bargain is to get to your destination faster while the cost is reduced reaction time, higher crash impact. Meanwhile the hidden danger is that you feel you are in control until that tragedy occurs. For reminders, speed thrills but kills.
Now for those whose overall aspirations in life depend so much on using their phone while driving, the bargain is to stay connected or reply immediately, while the cost is divided attention like driving blind for seconds. The reality in this scenario is that a mere three seconds of distraction can result in a fatal crash.
It is increasingly common to see drivers’ using their phones even at traffic stops or using their devices to check routes or change music. The same is the case with sights of drivers on hands free mobile phone calls, or seemingly talking to themselves as they drive.
Drivers know that it is unsafe and indeed risky to take their eyes away from the road,take their hands off the steering wheel just to use their phone. Yet, most drivers inndulge in this risky driving behavior perhaps because they feel that because they profess efficiency in multitasking and risk taking
Do you think seat belts are a distraction or nuisance? Or maybe you are a -law abiding driver or parent who cares less about other occupants including your precious child? The bargain in this case of non-seatbelt use, is comfort or laziness while the cost is severe injury or death in a minor crash. Meanwhile, the truth is that seatbelt saves.
Truth is that seat belts save lives. It can’t be put simpler than that. Seat belts have been adjudged to be the most effective traffic safety device for the prevention of death and injury in the event of a crash. Wearing a seat belt can reduce risk of crash injuries by 50 per cent according to the Global National Safety Council.
For driving under stress, anger or fatigue, the bargain here is ‘I can still manage while the cost is poor judgement, and slow reactions. Meanwhile, the real danger is that emotional driving is unpredictable. For the record, the risky choices we make happen because we underestimate the risk, rely on past luck; because we feel nothing has happened before. On the other hand, we value immediate reward over long-term safety. Please, always remember that every time you make a risky decision, you are making a trade and bargaining with the devil.
