With Freedom, Comes Responsibility: A Consideration on Safe Driving

With Freedom, Comes Responsibility: A Consideration on Safe Driving

The fear of getting behind the wheel does not strike many, yet it exists for some. The first time I got behind the wheel, this same fear came over me. I was afraid that I would crash our car and hurt someone. After all, I was attempting to operate a motor vehicle that is known to be the cause of 34,000 American deaths a year on average (DmvEdu.org), so no pressure right? Be that as it may, the fear was momentary because in that very moment, I recalled what I had done prior to working my way up to sitting in the driver’s seat: Driver’s Education. Suddenly, a wave of calmness washed over me as I remembered my training for this.

Driver’s Education is extremely important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. It provides proper and necessary instructions for operating a motor vehicle in a safe manner. Through the education program, inexperienced drivers are able to be educated on the traffic laws and road signage and familiarize themselves with the road. This, in turn, serves to calm some of the nerves and offer confidence, avoiding hesitation while driving. Furthermore, I believe that my driver’s education taught me better techniques and skills which helped me develop my road sense and intuition quicker. Thus, I feel that driver’s education creates and develops well-rounded young adults ready to implement the practices of safe driving. Without my driver’s education, I do not think that I would ever have been able to get over my fear of crashing, and I would say that it has proven to make me a good driver.

I have been incredibly lucky, thus far, to have not been in a car crash, however, I have seen many crashes as we have driven by on roads and on the news, and simulated crashes in movies. I have also heard of many local teenagers who, unfortunately, passed away due to unsafe driving. And the root cause of it all has been either irresponsible driving or being uninformed of the best way to safely maneuver through unexpected events. And here again, is where Driver’s Education comes into play because it allows students to learn the laws and to abide by them, and it teaches them to always anticipate in advance and expect the unexpected. Yet even with just the driver’s education program, crashes cannot always be prevented. Therefore, I believe that other steps should be taken as well to make driving safer. Firstly, I think that the allowed Blood Alcohol Consumption (BAC) level should be lowered. This would cause people to drink less before driving to avoid the consequences and, in turn, lower the rate of crashes due to driving under the influence. Secondly, I think that implementing sobriety checkpoints during night hours is a great idea, because it would prevent more and more people from drinking and driving. Furthermore, safe driving practices such as proper seatbelt and car seat usage should be advertised more and in various locations such as outside stores. This way, the public can be better informed on safe driving procedures. I also believe that speed limits should be better enforced and prevent people from going above the limit, even if it is just two miles per hour over. It seems slightly harsh; however, I can easily say from experience that it is not hard to drive below the speed limit because I normally drive two miles per hour below it and have no issues. I mention this because it seems counterproductive to me to have speed limits posted, and then allow people to go five above it. Additionally, I believe that pedestrian safety can be increased through further education on pedestrian laws and the improvement of traffic infrastructure at some outdated traffic lights. Lastly, I think that it would be a great idea to start up drivers ed workshops and reminder learning sessions for adults who would like to stay informed on safer driving etiquette and new and improved driving techniques.

Moreover, it is important for us to each take steps ourselves to become better and safer drivers. In order for me to accomplish this, I plan to stay active, healthy and sleep well, so that I have better physical control and mental focus while I am driving. I also avoid multitasking while driving, which includes eating and talking via my cellphone even if it is a call on speaker. Furthermore, I am constantly scanning the road for signs, pedestrians, and unexpected objects, and brush up on my road signs and laws as needed. I believe that it is also important to read your car manuals and familiarize yourself with your car before driving it so that you have a better understanding of how to best operate it. To add to that, it is always vital to maintain a safe driving distance between cars, pay attention to traffic lights, and slow down during turns to avoid overcorrecting. Additionally, you must always wear a seatbelt, never speed even if in a hurry, use your turn signals frequently and never attempt to beat a yellow light, but instead slow down to a stop. By applying these guidelines to your own driving, you can convince and inspire others such as your friends and family to do the same, and it is okay to politely correct them if you notice any improper driving techniques. It could end up saving their lives.

To conclude, driving often gives people a great sense of freedom, however with that freedom comes the responsibility to be safe and keep others safe as well. There are many risks to driving, including the death of innocent people, therefore, driver’s education is an incredible tool in educating inexperienced drivers. Yet, further steps can be taken to prevent more driving-related crashes as outlined above, especially those that are self-initiated. So, I thank you for considering safe driving with me.