Driving Smarter is Driving Safer

Ever since motorized vehicles have become common household items, the act of driving has become an almost menial task. Many people drive without paying any mind to the danger that they could put themselves into if they are not careful. An estimated 40,000+ people were killed in motor vehicle accidents last year, and many of those fatalities were the result of distracted or unintelligent driving. Forming safer, smarter driving habits is one of the most important things that a person can do, and something that every driver should implement into their lives. Driver education plays a crucial role in the reduction of road accidents. By equipping drivers with the knowledge and skills they need, we can ensure that all drivers are prepared to traverse the road safely. I have always been told since a young age, a smart driver is a safe driver.

However, it is easy to simply say that everyone should be safer. The biggest challenge of tackling the dangers of driving is the very difficult task of implementing and instilling safe driving habits with both new and existing drivers on the road. A common form of messaging about safe driving is through advertisements and PSA’s. We have all seen television commercials or posters that warn of the dangers of unsafe driving. However, I believe that we as a society are not doing enough to ensure that people are safe drivers. We should have many more of these advertisements and messages around the country.

While spreading messages about safe driving is a great way to reach many people at once, I believe that the best way for individual drivers to become safer is to learn from personal experience. For example, when I first started driving, I had a problem with speeding. Later I was pulled over for it. While I wasn’t given a ticket; instead just a warning; I took this experience with me and I used it as a chance to learn. Since then, I have been much safer with my speed. Furthermore, I also have experience with friends and family being unsafe drivers. I have had several friends that have been involved in vehicle accidents, and I have witnessed family members being unsafe while driving. When you witness something like a family or friend being unsafe, it really resonates with you and enables you to pay more attention to your habits.

Another method of spreading safe driving habits is one that anyone can do. As stated earlier, one of the best ways for people to learn to be safer is through personal experience. The next time you see someone that you care about being unsafe or reckless while driving, point it out to them and explain why they should not do that. You could even take the time to meet with your loved ones and have a talk with them about how to be a safer driver and the reasons to do so. By giving them the personal experience, the message will resonate with them much more than it would if it were on a billboard or a television commercial.

In recent years, a new driving hazard has emerged that has caused millions of accidents and thousands of deaths. Texting and driving, or more broadly, distracted driving, is the number one cause of vehicular accidents in the United States, particularly amongst younger drivers. I too am a part of this demographic, and I sometimes struggle with distracted driving as well. Phone usage while driving is one of the most dangerous habits that I guarantee almost everyone is guilty of at some point. I know that I am. Usually phone usage while driving starts as a quick glance to respond to a text, which itself is a dangerous situation to put yourself in. As time goes on, the texts continue, and eventually you are spending more time texting then you are looking at the road. This can often cause drivers to veer off the road, and in extreme cases collide head-on with an oncoming vehicle.

In conclusion, making the road a safer place is not something that can be accomplished by a simple task. It takes everyone to come together and be more mindful of their driving abilities and habits. And that process starts with you. The next time you are driving, take time to think about the small things that may cause you to put yourself in dangerous situations. Be mindful of your surroundings, and try to be observant of any bad habits you might have. Together, we can make the roads a safer and more aware place for everyone that uses them