Dangers of Unsafe Driving

My name is Zola Stewart, I want to educate you on the importance of safe driving. Teens do not understand how dangerous it is to not practice safe driving. Students learn first-hand the effects of unsafe driving. Which included not paying attention, texting while driving, under the influence, or being reckless. I will take you through my personal experience in my most recent car accident. Understanding the importance of being safe while driving will ensure your safety & others. In the United States, the most common cause of car crash deaths is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Other common causes include distracted driving, such as using a cell phone while driving, speeding, reckless driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. In 2021 3,211 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involved distraction (8% of 39,508 fatal crashes) nationwide. These crashes involved 3,346 distracted drivers, since some crashes each involved more than one distracted driver. The laws among drivers are essential to all ages, to help prevent accidents & abide by traffic signs. It would help you learn defensive driving as well, as practicing safe road habits.

The steps to reduce the number of deaths due to driving are :

Step 1: Always wear your seatbelt (all passengers)

Step 2: Signal every turn & lane change

Step 3: Maintain a safe distance (3 car lengths)

Step 4: Have a designated driver, especially if you have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Step 5: Double-check before entering an intersection

Following these 5 simple steps, you will be a safer driver.

I learned firsthand how dangerous it could be not to practice safe driving skills. During the time of the accident, I was 17 working a 9-5 job at Chick-fil-A. My mom instilled her trust in me and let me be responsible enough to drive myself where I needed to go. I was driving my mom’s old car a black Kia Sorento 2017 model, not my ideal first car. But, I enjoyed the freedom of having my car. The morning breakfast runs before school, blasting any song I had on my playlist, pointless trips to the store, & hanging out with my girls. Ugh, what a summer. I got my license in December and around this time it was June primarily 7 months. Anyway, I was on my way home from work I lived about 15-20 minutes away. It was a long shift I was tired & was ready to go home, so I did a quick refill on my tank. My friend Jada, drove behind me to the gas station since it was late at night after work, I said my goodbyes and headed home. I was coming up on my turn to either stay on the back road or make a left to my traffic light. I decided to stay on the back road, for whatever reason I have gone this way before so I thought nothing of it. To cross the street I had to drive through 2 way going traffic, you cross when the coast is clear. I got past one side of the street, I was waiting for the coast to be clear on the other side. While I was waiting on the side of the traffic, I just passed a car flying down the street. I noticed the car and thought this car was getting close and didn’t look like they planned on slowing down. I tried to move or back up, but it was too late. I was an experienced driver, but I never realized I had to be a defensive driver until now. I got hit on the side, making my car do a 360 spinning me in the opposite direction I was headed to. The powder from my airbag deployed, my driver’s side door was trapped in. I hit my head on the steering wheel, so my face was swollen on my cheek and everything was sore. I crawled out of the car, since I smelled the powder in the airbags I thought the car might explode. A stranger pulled next to me and asked if I was okay. If I remember correctly I called 911, to come to check out the accident and then I called my mom to let her know I got in an accident, she asked where was I and that she was on the way. We stayed there for hours waiting on the fire department and the police, all I wanted was to go to sleep. I knew it was over when the tow truck driver told me my car was totaled. The other person’s car was damaged in the front, it was a newer model of a Hundai. Both cars got towed to the nearest tow company, I headed home that night. It was a hectic process of questioning with the police and getting a ticket. I had a court date for my accident and I got all misdemeanors sealed. My driver’s record is clean, due to this was my first offense. I told myself moving forward, always take roads to a traffic light and not risky backroads. I had to learn defensive driving to practice being a safer driver which includes safe, law-abiding behavior and common sense. Stay focused, drive cautiously, obey signs, and encourage this behavior to your friends and loved ones. If we all consistently did these things, there would be far fewer roadway deaths every year.

Steps to be a safer driver: avoid distractions, wear prescribed glasses, follow the speed limit, avoid driving while tired, low beam headlights, cell phone use, etc. You can’t control the actions of other drivers. However, updating your defensive driving skills can help you avoid the dangers caused by other people’s bad driving. Staying focused on driving and only driving is critical to safe driving.

Stay focused. Driving is primarily a thinking task, and you have a lot of things to think about when you’re behind the wheel: road conditions, your speed and position, observing traffic laws, signs, signals, road markings, following directions, distractions ex. like talking on the.

Think safety first. Avoiding aggressive and inattentive driving tendencies yourself will put you in a stronger position to deal with other people’s bad driving. Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front.

Refrain from relying on other drivers. Be considerate of others but always look out for yourself. Do not assume another driver will move out of the way or allow you to merge. Assume that drivers will run through red lights or stop signs and be prepared to react. Plan your movements anticipating the worst-case scenario. One of the most important skills required to be a safe driver is to have a great sense of navigation. Based on my experience & hearing other drivers of what they went through, I will always share my story of driving safely at all times.