The Rules Apply to you Too

I did not want to learn how to drive. Unlike thousands of teenagers in the United States, I wasn’t excited to earn my driver’s license. Even though obtaining a driver’s license is considered a big milestone in a person’s life, I was scared of the responsibility that came with it. However, I didn’t have the option to avoid driving. I was raised by a single parent, which meant that I needed to help my mom however I could. Taking myself to and from school and gymnastics practice would give her more time to focus on her own responsibilities. So, my mom and I needed to work together to find the best way for me to learn how to drive. After I received my driver’s permit, my mom took the time to show me her car’s function and teach me how to drive it. Outside of hands-on lessons, my mom and I also researched different driver’s education courses to decide which one would be the best for me. Throughout the year and one day that I held my driver’s permit, I had a responsibility to study my state’s laws and practice driving enough to feel comfortable and safe when I am on the road.

A few months ago, my mom added to her insurance when I upgraded my license from a Class C Permit to a Class D license. Her insurance company recently required us to take a free online driver’s safety course. Even though my mom is a much more experienced driver than I am, she took the same course regardless. She chose to take this course because she agrees that no matter how long someone has been driving, they can always review the rules of the road and improve their driving habits.

In the past few years, there has been an increase in deaths caused by car accidents in the United States. The leading cause of these fatalities is speeding. It is easy to believe that you have enough control or are skilled enough to speed or multitask while driving. But, the truth is, no matter how skilled you are at driving, you endanger others when you choose to practice unsafe driving habits. Whether you engage in these habits yourself or you know someone who does, there are steps we can all take to reduce the number of traffic deaths in the United States.

Leaving early to avoid rushing and potentially making reckless errors to reach your destination on time is the first step you can take. Inspecting your vehicle to make sure it is road-safe before you depart is the second step you can take. The third step you can take is ensuring that you feel both physically and mentally fit to drive before you enter your vehicle. Once you have given yourself enough time to reach your destination, inspected your vehicle, done a self-check, and are ready to start driving, you should put away any and all distractions. You should set your phone somewhere that you won’t be constantly glancing at the screen or tempted to use it. Before you start driving you should ensure that your audio and navigation is set the way you like so you won’t need to take your attention off the road to fix it.

In past years, I have been a part of multiple accidents. At the time, the driver’s of the vehicles I was a passenger of were not responsible for these accidents. However, the majority of these accidents were caused by the other parties using their phone while driving. Removing cell phones and other distractions from your reach and line of vision can help prevent these accidents.

In addition to taking steps to reduce fatalities on the road, there are also steps we can take to become safer drivers in general. Most of these steps are basic laws. However, these are the laws that are most commonly ignored. Paying attention to road signs, following the speed limit, keeping a safe distance from the car ahead of you, wearing your seatbelt, and obeying the right-of-way rules can help keep you safe while you are on the road.

Simply following the rules of the road can make you a significantly better and safer driver. Many driver’s believe that they are experienced enough to ignore these rules or make exceptions. However, this belief is a large contributor to the over 17,000 car accidents that occur daily in the United States. The truth is, no matter how good of a driver you are, mistakes can and will happen. These mistakes are much more likely to have larger consequences if you ignore the rules of the road. These rules are put in place to keep you safe, not for you to ignore.