The Importance of Safe Driving

The Importance Of Safe Driving

Nowadays, people don’t take driving as seriously as they used to. The number of people I see driving while on their phones, or driving under the influence is frankly scary for the future of safe drivers. When I was freshly 16, I think it was 2 or 3 months after getting my license, I got into a car accident that could have changed my life. I was driving home from a town 45 minutes away, and I ended up rolling my car. I crossed the road and ended up in the ditch on the opposite side of the highway, and walked out unscathed. This accident could have changed the entire course of my life, and I am very lucky to have gotten out of it safely. This accident, though, made me realize how quickly things can go wrong, and how important safe and defensive driving is. 

Driving impaired doesn’t always follow the same outline that everyone seems to believe it does. Drugs, alcohol, and phones are the main perpetrators of “impaired” driving, but there are other less acknowledged impairments. Impaired driving can include being tired, driving on medication, and even eating while driving. There are so many things that have the ability to go wrong on the road, so you should only drive when you are in the best condition to. I think the most common example of impaired driving I see today is texting. Regardless of how many laws are in place to stop it, there will always be people on their phones on the road. Texting, calling, switching the music, using Maps, phones are a lethal hazard on the road. More modern cars are implementing more and more screens, that can do all of these things for you, but I think these screens are also a distraction. People can’t handle to look up from a screen for long enough to drive down the road, so they’ve incorporated them into multi-ton metal death traps. 

A very important person to me almost lost his life in an impaired driving accident. Two years ago, one of my closest friends was driving on the highway when he got t-boned by a driver that was on their phone. The accident rolled his truck, and crushed the entire top of the vehicle in. If the ambulance was any later, if someone had pulled him out of that truck any later, he wouldn’t still be with us today. Distracted driving and driving under the influence are some of the most selfish things a person can do. Drivers Education schools can be incredibly helpful to limit the number of hazards on the road. When people are properly prepared for getting out on the roads, they are less likely to cause harm to themselves or someone else. While there is no way to fully prevent accidents, driver’s education is one way to significantly reduce the number of motor vehicle casualties. 

In the year 2023, 41,000 people lost their lives to motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for people between 14 and 20. I know, at least in my area, driver’s education isn’t the most accessible thing. Very few places offer it, and very few spots are ever open. I personally did not get the chance to take driver’s education, but I believe if I had taken that class, I would have been much more prepared when it was time to get my license. While I do believe that I am a good driver (I can even drive a standard!), I think I could have greatly benefited from being taught directly by a professional. 

Driver’s Ed is incredibly important, and can be the difference between life and death when an inexperienced driver takes to the road by themself. Many people don’t bat an eye at distracted driving anymore, and it’s worrisome. The number of people who consistently use their phones or drive under the influence, who don’t even try to hide it is shameful. When forced to sit down and listen to a driver’s education course, I think students would begin to listen. Who cares when it’s not you? Until you’re face-to-face with what everyone has warned you about, which you chose to ignore. That’s the philosophy I see many of my peers agreeing with while driving. Your friends are irresponsible drivers, your parents, teachers, and coaches. These days, distracted driving is more common than not, and someday, we can hope that Driver’s education will become more widely available, easily accessible, and helpful. One can only hope that everyone will have access to this life-saving program someday.