Safety is key

Safety Is Key

It is not uncommon to hear about car crashes all over the news. The causes are often blamed on inclement weather, distracted driving, or intoxication, but regardless of how they happened, there are ways we can reduce them. Yes, sometimes these accidents are out of the driver’s control–you cannot control the presence of ice on the road or if the person in front of you is texting and driving–but there are ways to educate yourself and minimise these risks.
Driver education is important in reducing the number of deaths related to driving as it allows drivers to become more aware of their surroundings and respond to situations more logically and quickly. One of the most effective ways to reduce injury related to driving is by mandating Drivers education courses before anyone is allowed on the road. When I started driving, I had no idea what I was doing. My parents did their best in trying to explain the basic rules of the road and how to drive safely; however, it was not until I was enrolled in a Drivers Ed program that I actually understood how to drive properly and safely. My instructor provided me with many tips and tricks that I would have never realised on my own. 

Although I have never experienced being in a car accident, my mom unfortunately has. From what I remember, it was from driving on a road with ice on it, and the car slid down a hill into a ditch. Thank goodness she was okay, but it is unsettling to hear that a close member of my family was in a near-death experience. It was not her fault, but it shows just how cautious you must be while driving because if she was paying attention and this still happened, it is crazy to think how much worse things could have been if she was not focused on the road.

It is safe to say that everyone has multitasked before. You may have tried searching something on your phone while talking to someone and realised you were not able to spell the words correctly; this is because multitasking is not effective. Some like to say that they are better at multitasking than others, but they are actually better at the speed at which they switch from task to task. Relating this to driving, as much as you may think you are paying attention to the road while texting, the chances of you being fully engaged with your surroundings are quite low. That said, although it is more convenient to continue driving while committing to another task rather than pulling over, it only takes a couple of seconds of not paying attention to the road for something to go terribly wrong and result in a fatal accident. Having said this, drivers should remember that not all tasks need to be completed right away, and as cliché as it sounds, “eyes on the road.”

As stated earlier, one of the most beneficial ways you can become a better and safer driver and help others become safer on the road, is by taking a Drivers education course. Regardless of how long you have been driving, there will always be something new that this course will teach you. As for me, it taught me a lot because I was a new driver. But for those who have been driving for many years, it is never a bad idea to give yourself a refresher and possibly correct poor driving habits.

Another way to be safer on the road is by staying off if you know the conditions will be bad. This may be difficult for people who report to work in person and are not able to work from home. For those who cannot work from home, try taking a route that avoids sharp turns or hills and give yourself more time to get there. I know when the snow starts to fall where I live, I will be avoiding the usual way I drive home from school because the roads will be too dangerous. For those who drink, it is self explanatory, but if you are planning on consuming alcohol in a place other than where you live, make sure you have a ride home or a place to sleep planned ahead of time. One of the most dangerous car accidents can happen when someone is under the influence. Intoxication not only increases the risk on the road for the individual themself, but also every other person on the road as well.
Some situations will be inevitable, but being accountable and having the education to make informed decisions on the road can be the difference between life or death.