If you are stressed out and on the verge of a nervous breakdown, you need to limit your driving in Fayetteville.

If you like to live dangerously, such as engaging in mountain climbing, riding a motorcycle without a helmet or going deer hunting wearing a brown coat and a pair of antlers, you may be up to the challenge.

Sometimes while doing my best to navigate our narrow streets, heavy traft c, speed tables, abutments and oneway streets, I feel as if I am crossing a minefield. I know I must be vigilant at every driving moment to avoid trouble.

Some people don’t knowhow to drive. They are unable to stay in their lane; they pass in no passing zones, execute unexpected lane changes, do not obey the rules of the road (which they probably don’t know), speed and seem unaware of the danger caused by their erratic driving.

There are others who know how to drive but act asif the rules should not apply to them. If you assume other drivers will be considerate and law-abiding, you will be disappointed. People driving large vehicles, such as extended-cab pickup trucks or humongous SUVs present another hazard due to the narrow streets, often their aggressive driving and the deep ditches that line many of our roadways. If you are confronted with such, good sense tells you to defer to the other driver. If they tailgate you, let them pass at the fi rst opportunity.

Another problem to consider concerns a large deer population that appears to be migrating to town, and if your car is disabledby a collision with one, the chances are the deer will not have any liability insurance, and because of the deductible in your own insurance policy, you are stuck with repair and car rental bills.

A new, spreading hazard involves pedestrians texting while crossing the street, oblivious to the traft c. They are like zombies, strolling along without any idea where they are going. You also have numerous dog walkers, skateboarders, ordinary walkers, joggers and cyclers to deal with, and this means you have to be very careful or lucky, to avoid an accident. Often, as you attempt to pass someone who is in the middle of the road, you get adirty look because you were encroaching on their street. I admit, if you are walking fi ve dogs at a time, which I have witnessed, it is dift cult to stay in your lane.

If you are involved in an accident, you always have recourse of suing the off ender. However, the time, trouble and expense in going to court (i.e. court costs, attorney fees, depositions and expert witness fees) make it prudent to avoid litigation if at all possible. The other driver may not be insured or is only carrying minimum limits, and being victorious isn’t as easy as it may appear.

There is often a dispute as to who was at fault, and if you assume the other driverwill tell the truth about the accident, you are dreaming;

it doesn’t work that way. If the case goes to trial, the defense lawyer may get you confused on the witness stand and make it appear to the jury you were equally at fault and only faking your injuries. Many decide to forgo litigation to avoid the stress caused while appearing as a witness in court and being browbeaten by the insurance company’s hired gun.

Other than the above, driving in Fayetteville is a breeze.

BASS TRUMBO IS A RESIDENT OF FAYETTEVILLE, AN ATTORNEY AND A FORMER COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR IN BUSINESS LAW.

Opinion, Pages 11 on 12/02/2012