I don’t know about you, but I dread getting on the roads here in Atlanta. For those of you who don’t know the infamous I-85, I-285 and I-20 interstates, let me just say that you are really putting your life on the line when driving here.
Okay here’s just one first hand eye witness example. I’m traveling on I-85 when I noticed a woman alongside me driving around 60 miles per hour while putting on makeup; and deciding in deep thought which is the best look to apply given the several choices of mascara and eye liner perched on the dashboard. Oh and to make sure it’s applied perfectly, she looks in the rear view mirror to see apparently if it’s too much or not enough. Mind you, this is not to check on traffic to the rear, but to make sure it’s a good look.
I guess that why it makes me feel good to write an article about someone commended for safe driving practices. Someone like Jonathan Mayweather. This is especially true after witnessing so many examples or reckless driving.
The following is an article I wrote as part of my media specialist and voice over contract with ARI or Automotive Resources International. It’s the world’s largest fleet management company.
For the last five years Jonathan Mayweather has been driving a cargo van weighted down with sensitive tax documents. Mayweather transports this cargo around one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country as a fleet driver for the Georgia Department of Revenue.
“My biggest challenge is the Atlanta traffic congestion”, said Mayweather who has to navigate through what has been deemed one of the worst places in the country for commuters. Mayweather faces the traffic challenges five days a week and so far is accident free. He credits having a great deal of patience in attaining that feat. When asked about his days on the road he replied, “I see a lot of tempers flaring up on the road and that tends to make me even more alert of my traffic surroundings. Among some of the incidents he’s seen along the road are car fires, a helicopter that landed on the interstate and avoidable wrecks where drivers don’t pay attention because they’re following too closely.
Walker along with other drivers at the Georgia Department of Revenue is reminded about the importance of safe driving while conducting state business. He credits one training tool in particular.
“I like the online information alerts for drivers, that’s great help. I find it especially helpful when determining the right distances to stop to when traveling at a certain rate of speed”, said Walker.
According to Walker another type of tool gets him safely through the day on the road, “You have to be extremely humble. Personalities tend to be demonstrated while driving”.
Simply put. An aggressive person tends to drive aggressively. If you are an angry person, in my opinion you are likely to show that to the drive in front of you or beside you. But if you are humble and someone cuts you off or seems to be in a greater hurry than you are, you tend to now want to combat that. These are the observations of this veteran driver.
When he is not driving for the Department of Revenue he takes to the road as little as possible in his own vehicle. “I actually like getting a ride from a friend so I can view the road as a passenger and maybe pay attention to the billboards or something” he said.
The Georgia Department of Revenue puts the spotlight on Jonathan Mayweather.
