At DriveCam we review thousands of risky driving incidents every day. Many of these incidents are near collisions and often, only luck separates these incidents from being a crash. Recently, I was reviewing video clips of several near collisions at a client's request to see how many were unavoidable and could merit positive recognition for the driver. There were some, but there were also many where the driver inadvertently placed himself in a situation that increased the potential of a close call. By examining DriveCam's database of more than 15 million driving events, we know that drivers with an avoidable near collision are...

• 13 times more likely to fail to properly check their mirrors before making a lane change,
• 5 times more likely to fail to look far enough ahead,
• 11 times more likely to have inadequate space around their vehicle,
• 3 times more likely to be distracted by a handheld cell call,
• 4 times more likely to be engaged in a hands-free cell conversation,
• 3 times more likely to be distracted by food or drink while driving.

In addition to these, one of the more common situations I saw was what I'll call the "Open Lane." It's a concept that too few drivers think about. Let me explain what the "Open Lane" is ...

Have you ever seen one lane stop or slow to a crawl and yet, magically, an adjacent lane is open? I refer to this as the "Open Lane" phenomenon and it can be dangerous.

The "Open Lane" tends to shift as traffic and problems transfer from lane to lane. Unfortunately, these temporary open lanes are dangerous bait that traps frustrated motorists over and over again. Often, they conclude in swerving and angry horn honking or worse yet, a side swipe or a rear ender.

Everyone has time pressures, and when presented with an unexpected opportunity to get moving again, most drivers excitedly "drop into the slot" created by the open lane, accelerate and go. There's only one problem ... if one driver drops into the slot to take advantage of the open space, why wouldn't others want to do the same? Obviously, they would. Yet, I am constantly amazed at how many videos I review that show a suddenly free driver failing to anticipate and adjust for this dangerous inevitability.

I'm not naïve enough to expect drivers to sit still in a backed up lane while other drivers sail by in a faster moving lane. They wouldn't do it. The danger isn't necessarily in taking the available space; the danger resides in traveling in an open lane at speeds substantially faster than the lane alongside. A high speed differential makes it very difficult to detect - and then safely react to - a vehicle abruptly jumping out of an adjacent lane without warning. And the risk inherent in this speed differential is even more critical for truck drivers.

If you do have an open lane or choose to "drop into the slot" to get moving again, limit the difference between your speed and the speed in the clogged lane alongside you to approximately ten miles per hour. Your speed management, along with vigilant scanning for anxious drivers ahead, will provide you the time and space required to safely control the risk of a hasty lane jumper. The lane jumper won't give you a turn signal, so watch their front tires for clues of their intentions. You can be certain someone will be jumping in - you just don't know who or when.

Look for "Open Lane" situations next time you're on the roadway. You'll be amazed by how many close calls occur because of this. Learn from other drivers' mistakes and anticipate and adjust the next time you find yourself with an open lane.