Protect Yourself and Others

The risk of death increases by 70 percent every time we get inside a vehicle. I live in a rural area and vehicles are a necessity to get to and from work, school, and even the grocery store. Being safe is key when you are behind the wheel and being aware of your surroundings. I live in a very wooded area and wildlife is also a major hazard in my area. Wrecks happen daily due to deer and wild hogs running out into the road. To help reduce the risk of vehicle damage, or harm to yourself and others, keeping both eyes on the road is best. Keeping both hands on the wheel and aware of the sides of the road can help save your life and the life of an animal. I have never been in a wreck myself, but I have seen some terrible wrecks happen and the aftermath of what a bad wreck can do. The sound two vehicles make as they collide is a sound you will never forget. It’s like two monster metal giants colliding and metal fragments exploding from the wreckage. Thankfully I have never seen anyone lose their life from a wreck, but I have seen wrecks so bad that you would wonder how they lived through them. Doing our part as safe drivers is step one to me on being safe on the road. It’s important to keep your fluids checked, your tires checked, and be sure all your lights are working properly before you leave. I am guilty of not doing this every time myself, but I do check from time to time and I try to notice the lights of my friends and family as they are leaving. Making sure that your tires have the proper amount of air can save you from a blow out that could cost you your life or the lives of others around you. I remember my parents doing system checks and light checks before we would leave on a vacation. I would be in the back seat thinking this is such a waste of time and be ready to go on our adventure, and be mad that I had to wait for them. Looking back now I am thankful they did these safety checks, because they just might have saved our lives or the lives of someone else. Following the law as you are behind the wheel is another way to ensure road safety. Not eating, drinking, or texting is another way to be safe behind the wheel. In my state we have a hands free law that states you cannot have anything in your hands while driving. No food, drinks, phone, and no contact with any of the above or the radio while driving. That rule alone shows how important it is to have all your focus on the road. As I was turning fifteen and getting ready to get my license it was mandatory for me to take the drug awareness program. This program shows the effects of drugs on the human system and how they impair your driving. I also had to take a writing test where I had to answer the rules of the road questions. The lowest grade you could make and still pass was an 80. I also had to take a course online called Joshua’s Law. This course would question your judgment on what you would do in a given scenario. It would give you situations where you would have to make the best decision to save your life. After I passed all these tests I was then granted a learner’s permit that I drove on for a year with an adult with me at all times. I wasn’t allowed to drive late at night or early in the morning. There were many other rules that had to be followed if I wanted to keep my learner’s license. After having my learner’s license for a year I was then able to go take the driving test. I was recorded in my vehicle driving while the instructor verbally gave me directions through the recording device. I was very scared and nervous while they were watching me and the whole time I was hoping and praying I would pass the test. Thankfully I did pass my driving test, but I have never forgotten how hard it was to get my permanent license. It took over a year and about 5 different courses, but I was proud of that independence. I have learned that the rules are put in place to ensure safety for me and everyone around me, and in order to be safe we must know and respect the rules of the road.