The reality of driving.

Has your life ever flashed before your eyes? Well, approximately 3,700 people every day have experienced that, you may be asking why, well those 3,700 people lost their lives just by getting in their car and getting on the road. Driving is a serious responsibility and takes focus and skill to be able to get from place to place safely, and many factors contribute to that safety. Before even stepping into the car make sure you’re in the right state of mind and are regularly practicing safe driving habits, make sure to think about others’ safety not only your own, and confirm all safety measurements to be accomplished and understood.

Driving while not in the right mindset can be extremely dangerous to yourself and others. Being in the right mindset for anything is important but it is especially important while driving. Being in the wrong mindset can involve a variety of dangerous behaviors, such as talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, conversing with passengers in your car, and tinkering with the stereo, entertainment system, or navigation system. It can also be fatal to simply be easily distracted. It is vital to identify and address risky driving behaviors, as some individuals may not even be aware that they are engaging in them. Even getting into a driver’s seat intoxicated can be very risky and my friend Angie had to pay the price of someone else’s unsafe driving.

Is your life and others worth looking at an Instagram post? or a text? You should always be aware of other drivers and expect the unexpected. “Keep your head on a swivel,” my grandpa still tells me today, I always took it seriously and I have seen some of my friends in tragic, fatal car crashes and it breaks my heart that they had to pass away and be part of the 38,000 people (about twice the seating capacity of Madison Square Garden) who have lost their life this year just from car accidents. I’ve also gotten into a bad car accident before and ended up with a concussion but thank God I practiced safe driving habits because if I didn’t put my seat belt on, I would’ve flown out the window. This is why this topic is so important, think about your actions because one mistake can cause a whole family to go through a tragedy, you never know whose life you are destroying, and you will have to face the consequences of that and depending on the seriousness it can even result in prison time. Some safe driving habits to prevent fatal car accidents include staying focused, wearing your seat belt, Driving the speed limit, practicing defensive driving, and checking your blind spots.

To continue, you should make sure all the safety requirements are met before anything. You should not be driving without the correct knowledge. Driving isn’t as simple as just putting your foot on the gas, there are many rules you must follow in order to get from place to place safely. There are many road signs you must learn that are essential to not getting in a car accident. You must acquire your permit and to get your permit you must go through the driver’s ED to learn all the correct procedures while driving. Only driving with an adult over twenty-one from the earliest five AM to the latest midnight is permitted to be able to practice, to eventually get your driver’s license. About nine percent of adult Americans do not possess a current driver’s license. Thirteen percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes have invalid licenses. This is why It’s important to keep yourself updated on safety and driving rules. Having high confidence while driving is also important, you should always make sure you are confident you will be able to be as safe and drive the best that you can.

Finally, driving safely is especially important for yourself and others. Making sure you’re in the right state of mind and are regularly practicing safe driving habits, making sure to think about other’s safety not only your own, and confirming all safety measurements to be accomplished and understood are all steps into making it to your destination safely. Would you want to be part of the 38,000 who have lost their life because of fatal car accidents? Ask yourself that before thinking driving is a game and having to see my close friend Angie pass was tragic, she didn’t have to pass away if somebody on the road was not driving recklessly. Remember, you never know whose life you may be destroying because of your selfish ways. Let’s all drive safely together and make this world a little more safe!