Guide to a safer driving community

Driving being the main source of transportation means lots of drivers on the road and makes for more risk. Safety needs to be of utmost importance to avoid dangerous situations. Going through drivers’ education courses ensures drivers know what they should expect before getting behind the wheel of a car on their own. In drivers’ education you learn the safety of how traffic works, risks of weather environments, how to control your car and the steps to take to ensure you do everything you can to prevent accidents. I know many people who have passed in motor vehicle accidents, knowing how to handle your car, and being attentive can help this not happen to you or your loved ones. When students pay attention to these courses, it means more attentive drivers resulting in fewer accidents.

When it comes to reducing the number of deaths, the biggest thing you can do is always know what you yourself are doing and really knowing your space in time or the surrounding area. Make sure you have control of your vehicle. Use your blinkers when changing lanes and turning lights on when it’s dark or foggy just making sure cars also see you. In addition, leaving an extra space between vehicles can be helpful because if another car by you becomes out of control, it’s less chance of impact. Not leaving home if you don’t have to in bad weather is also a great way to reduce the risk. Don’t put yourself or others in danger if you’re not comfortable. Letting others know where you are going in case of an accident or emergency is also beneficial. Doing your part is a huge benefit to less risk of both deaths and accidents. When there are safer drivers, there are safer roads.  

In personal experiences, I’ve both been in car accidents and hit by a car in my lifetime. I don’t recommend either of these situations. I was hit by a car back in middle school when I was on my way to school. The lady said she was blinded by sunlight and couldn’t see me, but in reality, either way she should have made sure the path was clear. I sustained some non-life-threatening injuries, but the worst part of it all was it was a hit and run. She left before the cops got there and when they found her, she also had no insurance on her vehicle. That woman should have never been on the road in the first place with no insurance and you never leave the scene of an accident. The time I was in a vehicle accident, my boyfriend and I were hit while at a dead stop. The guy was on drugs and didn’t slow down. Not only were they recklessly driving, but under the influence and no insurance again. Both situations could have been avoided with safe driving habits.

Things I can do to make the roads safer is first taking responsibility for my driving on the roads. Taking drivers ed courses is a good first step. Also, making sure my car is up to code and has good safety features to keep me safe, including a seat belt. Making sure I get a good night’s sleep before driving is also crucial, so I don’t fall asleep behind the wheel and wearing glasses in necessary. On the road, using my signals when changing lanes and always keeping my eyes on the road can avoid accidents. In addition, if put in a bad situation knowing to turn hazards on, who to call and overall knowing my surroundings.

        Some advice I would have for other drivers would be to encourage them to make good decisions. When in the passenger seat, if the driver needs to look something up helping them or suggesting they pull over instead of using their phone on the road. Being an extra set of eyes if they need it and its bad visibility. Letting other drivers know if you drive by and see something is wrong with their car if possible or if they have their lights off at night. Suggesting insurance when a friend is buying a new car. Overall, just advocating that it’s important to take driving seriously and not like a toy or a video game, I feel like sometimes people forget they are driving a real car that has a lot of power at their fingertips. With these steps, we can decrease the number of accidents and injuries on the roads and create safer roads.