Simple Steps to Being a Safe Driver

There are not many people you know who do not drive a vehicle. Just like having a phone, having a car is vital to our daily lives. The responsibility put on drivers is immense. Even the smallest of vehicles weigh ten times that of an average human. Driving that type of weight at forty miles per hour down a road, could be catastrophic if there is neglect to being safe. Taking precautions and being responsible is not a choice, it is a duty.

Personally, I have lost multiple friends and family to car accidents. Recently, one of my close cousins was a member of an accident that has permanently altered his brain functioning and he is now unable to speak how he used to.Now, he is unable to be alone for too long and cannot function without help. One of my closest friends was in a bad accident that broke his wrist, cut his flexor tendons in his palm, and broke all his fingers. Luckily, he was wearing his seatbelt or he would have been launched from the vehicle. The injury kept him from playing his last couple of games his senior year. These are just a few of the vehicle accidents that have affected my family and me.

Taking the steps to protect yourself and the people you are driving is very important. Small mistakes on the road can lead to life changing consequences. Reading a text message on the highway, grabbing something from the backseat, not looking both directions at a stop, forgetting to break around curves are some easy things to do while driving. Simple choices are what can be the difference in life and death. Negligence on the road is a bad habit to get into. I have some minor tips to consider before getting into the vehicle that can change how you drive.

Before pulling out, check your phone to make sure you have responded to any texts or calls that you want or need so you do not do it while you are on the road. Approximately twenty percent of wrecks occur because of cell phone use. As a teenager, I know how important getting those texts are or calling that person back but it is very dangerous to do it while driving. Put on a playlist before you get into the car. It is hard to look up songs while driving and give the road the amount of attention it needs. Putting on playlists keeps you from flipping through songs and getting into trouble while driving. If you have a passenger in the vehicle and you need to communicate something, let them call or text that person back. Doing anything to stay off your phone while driving is a good habit to get into.

An obvious tip is that you should always take driving laws seriously. Many people choose to not stop at the stop sign or run through red lights because they think they can make it without anything happening. Partaking in actions like this make you less cautious and more likely to get hit or to hit someone. Speed limits, caution signs, and no passing zones are laws that should be abided by. Not following these laws could lead you to driving off the road or being run off the road. These laws have been set up to allow you to get where you need to go at the fastest rate possible, but while also being safe. Lastly, just wearing a seatbelt can be so helpful. If my friend had not been wearing a seatbelt, he most likely would not have survived the wreck. Being a law abiding driver will not only keep you safe, but also keep you from receiving tickets.

One thing to remember while driving on the road is that although you may be a good, law abiding driver, other drivers may not be as safe as you are. Taking the steps to prepare you to safely drive is important for you to pay attention to the road but also to the drivers on it. I have had plenty of drivers come into my lane while I was driving. If I would have not been paying attention, that driver would have hit me. Even if your car can handle the curves faster than the signs say, another driver may be waiting for you around the corner in your lane. Taking precautions can help you avoid those careless drivers and keep you out of accidents.

Taking some precautionary steps may seem too extreme for just going to work or coming home from school, but they can have a big impact on your life. Car wrecks can be extremely serious. Two vehicles colliding with people at the wheel is life threatening. Even just going around a corner can be detrimental if you are not careful. Driving vehicles should be taken very seriously and being a careful driver is so important. You do not want to see your best friend in a bad accident and I can assure you, they do not want to see you in one either. So take the necessary steps to being safe in the driver’s seat.