Driving Safety

The importance of driver education is crucial in keeping drivers up to date on all road rules and regulations, enhancing vehicle safety. First, driver education improves a citizens decision making when assessing certain situations while on the road. Instances like knowing when to speed up or slow down at a yellow light and when to make your move at a yield sign. Another importance of driver education is knowing the basics of how to control a vehicle. While this is the easiest step to handle a vehicle, being unable to step on the gas, hit the brakes and steer the wheel properly could easily lead to accidents on the road. Lastly, driver education is important when it comes to defensive driving. Not only are you driving your own car but also everyone else’s around you and anticipating the worst from other drivers leads to safer results. Scanning the road for all possible results can minimize the amount of accidents occurring.

There are simple choices that drivers can make which will reduce the probability of a future accident occurring. Steps such as quitting texting while driving and driving under the influence, driving the speed limit and reducing distractions surrounding the driver can all lead to fewer accidents on the road. There are roughly 13,500 alcohol related deaths and over one million crashes caused by drivers who were texting while driving that occur yearly. Another choice a driver can make in reducing future accidents is being cautious of weather and being extra careful in snow, ice and heavy rain. This could mean driving below the speed limit, having passengers assist the driver in whatever ways needed or even not driving at all during bad conditions. These decisions made by those behind the wheel often take lives from innocent citizens that get caught in the crossfire.

I myself have been involved in one car accident where my dad was pulling out of a gas station parking lot when another driver went through a stop sign and banged into the side of our car. The other driver involved in the accident seemed to not check her surroundings and went through the stop sign carelessly. Even if she stopped focusing for two seconds leading up to the accident, that is all the time needed for one to occur which is why everyone should be a safe defensive driver at all times. There have also been a few instances that I have been in a car ride and noticed a family member of mine drive irresponsibly. My father often uses his phone while driving for navigation like most other people do, yet he will also use his phone to text as well, preventing his eyes from staying attached to the road. This bad choice has lead to him swerving out of lanes here and there and having a couple calls referring to almost rear ending the car in front of him. He also is one to not wear a seatbelt unless reminded to do so which usually comes from me when I am in the car as well. I have also witnessed a family friend of mine drive with road rage and drive over the speed limit constantly which is dangerous and puts everyone else on the road in harm’s way. I myself have learned to not make these mistakes because there’s a chance that one bad decision can either take my life, someone else’s life or even worse.

Steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver include following all safety procedures before starting the vehicle, making sure I am in good enough condition to handle the vehicle and blocking out all distractions so that I can focus on the road ahead. The safety procedures include turning on headlights in the dark and or bad weather conditions, buckling my seatbelt, making sure I have enough gas to get to my location and securing all other passengers, pets and loose items. It is important for a driver like myself to understand if I am in proper condition to handle a vehicle and in situations where I feel too tired to drive or I had large amounts of alcohol, it is safe to either not get on the road at all for the time being or have someone else drive me. Distractions are big in causing car accidents and the way for me to keep distractions low when driving include turning off phone notifications, not eating or drinking while driving, not engaging often with those in the car with me especially turning around and talking to someone in the backseat and keeping my eyes on the road at all times. There are numerous ways to help others become safer on the road. The obvious problem to try preventing as a passenger is drinking while driving and texting while driving as those are two of the biggest leaders in accidents on the road. Keeping the phone out of reach of a driver and not allowing them to drink while behind the wheel are big in keeping them out of harm’s way. Another way to protect the driver and yourself is at parties and events, a time where people often like to drink and or do drugs/smoke. If there is a designated driver, watch them carefully and look for signs if they are not in the right headspace to control a vehicle and if this is the case, offer to either wait it out or offer to drive the group back yourself. A vehicle is a powerful weapon and it never hurts to be safe on the road and even if that means preventing whoever is behind the wheel from doing what they want to do in order to protect everyone else, it is the right decision to make.