Driving Safety: What can you do?

In the present day, the number of deaths per year due to motor vehicle incidents is not a commonly shared statistic among people or in my experience– even mentioned in driver’s education. On the other hand, in the past, people didn’t have phones to look at that constantly distracted them during a drive. My boss even watches Netflix as he drives home. Now it is so common for a driver to be looking at a cellular device instead of the road in front of them. As a result, driver education is essential. People should be educated on the rules of the road as well as the casualties that can happen on the road. The number of deaths could be decreasing rapidly with all the safety software and technology in vehicles today, however, we cancel that out by being reckless drivers. Nonetheless, we have the ability to prevent more accidents from happening. Individually, the steps to be taken during driving to counteract car crashes and deaths are to simply be aware when one is driving, drive sober, and buckle your seatbelt. If you are not the driver, ask the person driving to stay off of their phone or to pay attention to the road. When there are intoxicated individuals have a designated driver or order an Uber. These steps seem simple, yet they are not followed as they should be. As a society, community, and/or town, road signs are a good step toward reminding people about the safety laws regarding driving a motor vehicle. For example, the interstate where I live has electric signs that display catchy slogans and bright colors to remind drivers to stay off of their phones, buckle their seatbelts, and drive sober. While they may seem silly, they are very encouraging. Raising awareness about the dangers of motor vehicles in a community setting is also another great step toward reducing the number of deaths related to driving. People always think a car crash isn’t going to affect them until it does. Taking real statistics into consideration would raise alarm about the risk that comes with operating a motor vehicle.

I have a couple of experiences of being in a car accident. I was driving during both of them. Both were also due to my not giving due diligence to the road and people around me. I was not on my phone during either accident and I was aware of the driver around me however, I panicked while in traffic and that’s what got me in trouble. During one of my accidents, I went to make a left turn and my left turn signal light turned red. The opposing light was delayed and I had no idea, but if I had given my due diligence to the road, lights, and drivers near me and waited or used more observational skills I might have noticed that the opposing light was still green and that I did not need to make a left turn right then and there. Besides that, if I had not driven into the middle of the intersection to turn left and waited back like I was supposed to I could have avoided the situation entirely. Unfortunately, I was too confident. I have been with a few other drivers as well that are too confident on the road and they have nearly lost control of their vehicles. Every time it has happened I have never stepped back into a vehicle with them and I am vocal about how I feel about their driving.

I had to be in accidents like the ones I was in to bring awareness to myself about the dangers of driving, and what could happen to me if I was not safe enough on the road, but that’s not what should have happened. I do take full responsibility for my car accidents but I wish the community and town would have made education about driver deaths and dangers per year more prominent and real so I could have been more aware of the number of deaths that driving causes. After that accident, I have taken several steps to stay safer on the road. I remain off of my phone and follow all of the rules that people are typically relaxed on, such as turning into the wrong lane when there are multiple to turn into, putting on my turn signal, staying out of the middle of the intersection during a left turn, and coming to a full stop at stop signs when no one else is in sight. I can’t change the drivers in the vehicles around me, but I can stay as vigilant as possible.

I hope students and drivers other than myself are more informed than I was and take the proper precautions to protect themselves and the people around them.