Stop Drifting While Driving

Driving has become more dangerous in the United States than going to war and being involved in combat. In America, an average of 34,000 people die each year as a result of driving. These causalities occur for several reasons from distracted driving, to drunk driving, to simply reckless driving. It is my responsibility as much as it is any individual that sits behind the wheel of a car to understand the importance of driver education. Driver education is necessary in reducing the number of deaths linked to driving. Driver education courses are critical to safe driving because they teach the driver judgement, common sense and defensive driving. Driver education teaches students how to drive in all sorts of weather from rainy to snowy conditions. This learning experience is designed to help young drivers learn the laws within their state. They also learn how to read and interpret traffic signs and how to integrate their hand eye coordination while observing their environment. The skills learned are taught in the classroom and reinforced on the road. These skills provide valuable insight on how to drive safely and ultimately reduce the likelihood of accidents.

It is our responsibility as a society to implement changes to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. As individuals, we can take responsibility for our own actions. If we are tired and not feeling our best, this is not the time to get behind the wheel. It is extremely important to minimize distractors when driving. I love music but I know it can be distracting so I keep my radio at a volume that will allow me to hear what is going on around me. I keep the music at a level that does not interfere with my ability to focus. I love to hang out with friends, but I try to limit the amount of people in my car to one other person. I do to ensure there are not too many conversations going on creating the possibility for added distractions. It is important to be responsible for ourselves and others. As responsible individuals we have to look out for our friends. We must intervene when we see others exercising poor judgment like attempting to drive after drinking. We can offer to be the designated driver or simply take our friends keys from them. A recent change that has been implemented in the city of Detroit is the addition of speed bumps in most of the neighborhoods. This is a global change that has had a significant impact on the number of accidents taking place as a result of speeding.

I can recall a late summer night in August 2019 when my dad called from the hospital after being run off the road by a drunk driver. His car was totaled but by the grace of God, he walked away with a few bumps and bruises. I remember how scared I was when I saw the pictures on his phone of what the car looked like, completely bent and smashed. This unnecessary event occurred all at the hands of an irresponsible driver. The interesting thing is that injuries associated with accidents are not always visible or apparent. To this day, my father still suffers with arm pain. When I was learning how to drive, my father would always say, “you have to drive for everyone”. At the time, I didn’t understand what that meant. I now know that you have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whether it’s a person driving too close to the lines or swerving in your lane, you must stay focused and maintain a reasonable distance from those around you to maximize reaction time.

The steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver include ensuring my vehicle is safe to be on the road. It’s important to check your tire pressure, maintain high-quality brakes and refrain from having obstructions to your view on the windshield or the mirrors. As I stated before, it is critical to be aware of other drivers and focused on your surroundings at all times. Therefore, I make it a point not to eat while I’m driving or talk on the phone. Overall, my goal is to be a safe and courteous driver. Follow the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” We all have places to go and the goal is to get there safely.