HELLO THERE!
I am Brian, founder of The Road Ranger Guide website. Driving has always been one of the most pivotal milestones in a young person’s life. It signifies that you are now gaining a sense of freedom, but with that, a great deal of responsibility. My first job out of high school was working for Domino’s Pizza as a delivery man. For four and a half years I was on the same roads, getting familiar with the ins and out of the various routes, accumulating a ton of miles, but being a young man and capable of earning my keep, made it all worthwhile. I have been driving now for over four decades and I am still perfecting my driving skills. Recently, I was a ride-share driver for eight and a half years. Every day it was me and the road and the battle with traffic, defensive driving, staying focused, and logging a lot of miles; literally hundreds of thousands of miles. To say I have driving experience is an understatement and anyone that lives in Los Angeles, California understands what a feat that is. Thankfully, in all those miles I’ve only been involved in two accidents, neither one caused by me. It’s safe to say I have a lot of real-world experience behind the wheel and with that experience, my goal is to share it with you to make the road a safer place for everyone and perhaps an enjoyable, stress-free experience.
NOW…LET’S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING; AFTER ALL, YOU CAN’T MOVE FORWARD UNTIL YOU LOOK BACK.
I WAS 15 YEARS OLD…
My dad took me out in our Toyota Celica, in Washington where I grew up and it just so happened to be in the winter, so, of course, it was snowing. It was not a day that I expected to learn how to drive, but if I could learn to manage that successfully, there was no doubt in my mind that I could do anything. Did I mention that our Celica was a stick shift? If you are shaking your head, imaging an excited, yet nervous fifteen-year-old about to stall countless times and in the snow, well so was I, but the emotions didn’t take over because my dad instilled in me from the very start how important being a responsible driver was…something that has stuck with me throughout these years and something I will hopefully convey to all of you drivers out there. My dad expressed that I was responsible for any car I drove and for the lives within it when I was behind the wheel. If something went wrong because of me, it was on me. Needless to say, after all these years I still live and drive by these rules. Seems simple enough doesn’t it? Act responsibly when behind the wheel of a machine that can become a loaded weapon if not used properly. Unfortunately, there are many on the road today that don’t behave in a very responsible or thoughtful way; I’m sure you see it daily just as I do. From the minute I start the engine, I’m already mentally preparing for the potential of what’s to happen from people texting while driving, not signaling when turning or changing lanes, speeding, and my personal pet peeve, following too closely behind the car in front of them. The list is never-ending – kind of like gridlock on the interstate at 4 pm. These days, it seems like most people on the road are experiencing tunnel vision, focused solely on themselves and their agendas, while multitasking because defensive driving and focus are not the top priority which leads to bad decisions and a multitude of unnecessary accidents, some even fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projects that an estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes last year, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020. The projection is the highest number of fatalities since 2005 and the largest annual percentage increase in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System’s history. These aren’t just numbers. They represent a life tragically lost, and a family left behind which is what I want to help prevent.
It is my mission to make the roads safer through experience and successful products.
It is my goal, my mission to remind people how important it is to always drive with others in mind, and be aware of the decisions made not only affect you personally but everyone around you. Rules aren’t meant to be broken, despite what we have heard since we were young. My mission is to provide knowledge about the road, my experiences, and recognition of the importance of obeying the rules of the road; to never forget that there are human beings in those cars next to you just trying to make it home to their loved ones safe and sound.
My goal is to help you stay safe and guide you.
Ultimately, my goal is to help you stay safe out on the road and become a better driver. I want to help remind you of the things you may have forgotten when you first learned how to drive, and to pass along the things that I’ve learned in all my years and many miles on the road. I will be testing out products and giving reviews on them that will hopefully provide the know-how of what is the most cost-efficient and successful product to use when driving.
I’m here to help but I’m also here to learn from you as well. What were your experiences? What products have you used? If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below and I will be more than happy to help you out.
Drive Safe!
BRIAN-THE ROAD RANGER
w. theroadrangerguide.com