Safe Driving

Driving is an essential part of most people’s daily lives. It gets people to and from their jobs, homes, grocery stores, and just about any other place they may want to go. It is often the first major taste of independence for teenagers and will be useful for them for many years after learning to drive. This is why it is important to know the dangers and to take driving very seriously.

Driver’s Education is an extremely important part of reducing the number of driving-related deaths. Driving classes are what teach new drivers what they are doing. If they are not educated correctly, something could easily go wrong. Providing students with good resources as well as helpful teachers plays a huge role in preventing driving deaths. Along with the normal teaching of a driving class, I believe a lesson on how to do so safely is essential. Class is a key place to start pushing the importance of safe driving habits.

There are many habits you can get into the routine of doing to prevent causing a car accident. While you may think it is okay to look away from the road for a minute, it is in fact very dangerous to do so. It is important to make sure there is not anything around that might distract you. Keeping my phone on silent and placing it somewhere out of sight is something I practice every time I drive. It is also a good idea to have the GPS set up to the location you are driving to before you start driving. While it may only take a second, taking your eyes off the road to set up a GPS can be very dangerous. If you have a passenger in the car with you, it is important to pay more attention to the road than to a conversation with them. I also recommend, especially for newer drivers, to avoid listening to the radio. While more experienced drivers can multitask with it on very well, not everyone can. At the end of the day though, the best tip you can take is to just pay very good attention and to always be aware of your surroundings. Chances are a crash will be caused by someone else’s mistake and you need to be ready to react.

I personally have never been in a car accident, but I have had friends and family that have been. My best friend Nana got into one a year ago, just down the road from their home. She was not at fault and luckily no one was hurt. My Grandma and cousins also got into a crash a few years ago, and while no one was seriously hurt it left one of my cousins very shaken up. She was scared to ever be in a car again. Car accidents can be very difficult to go through. I have witnessed a few family members drive irresponsibly. My family has a bit of a habit of speeding. I have also witnessed them using their phones while driving. I do understand the dangers of these things though, so I often try to call them out on these actions. Do not be afraid to tell your friends and family when they are not practicing safe driving. I may be awkward or annoying at that moment, but at the end of the day, that is much better than getting into a crash.

Driving safely can sometimes be difficult to get into the habit of. Especially when you have not driven very long. Eventually though, after keeping at it for a while, you will get it. Make sure to follow the ideas I listed earlier. Nowadays especially phones in the car can be an issue, so I heavily recommend keeping those turned off and away. Speeding is also a big issue to avoid becoming a part of. Speeding can be very enticing, it helps you get where you are going faster and can give a nice rush of adrenaline. You must keep in mind that speed limits are there for a reason. They are not there to slow you down or keep you on the road longer, they are there to keep you safe. The faster you go the less control you will have over your vehicle, and that will very quickly cause a car accident. Even if you practice every step of safe driving you can find, you still can’t be completely safe. The reality of the matter is, you will not always be the person at fault. That is why it is important to share these tips and any others you find, with your peers, family, and friends. Driving can be very scary sometimes, but if you work hard to stay safe, it doesn’t have to be.