Staying Safe While Driving

Staying
Safe While Driving

Driving is
something most people will have to do at some point in their life,
and many will start driving before they even know what they want to
do in life. Considering this, it is worth discussing the dangers of
driving and how we can reduce the number of fatalities.

Driver
education is an important step in reducing the number of deaths due
to driving. Drivers ed is important because if someone isn’t
taught how to use a tool that can be potentially dangerous, accidents
are much more likely. In factories, people have to be taught how to
operate machinery safely before they can use it without supervision
to prevent injuries. A person who isn’t taught how to use a tool
will not be able to use it properly and safely. Furthermore, drivers
have to abide by certain rules. If one driver doesn’t know the
rules, then people who are relying on them to abide by the rules may
end up in a car collision with them. Uneducated drivers lead to
unnecessary deaths. When a driver doesn’t know the rules of the
road, they put others in danger when they unknowingly break the
rules. Driving is based on trusting other drivers to drive correctly.

Additionally,
drivers ed helps reduce deaths by teaching new drivers what to
do in emergencies. For example, what to do if you’re suddenly
hydroplaning. It also teaches a new driver how to prevent some
emergencies and reduce the risk present while driving. Examples
include checking your tires for punctures, checking your brake
lights, turning on your headlights, turning off your high beams when
a car is driving towards you at night, and avoiding tailgating. The
list goes on and is a testament to the importance of drivers ed
because if someone isn’t taught, they may learn it the hard way.

In
order to determine some ways to reduce the number of fatalities from
driving, it must be established what the main causes of these deaths
are. I believe the main root causes of fatalities from driving are:
individual driver behavior, infrastructure, and societal norms. There
are too many things a driver can do to list here that may cause an
accident, but the main three areas of concern are driving while
distracted, tired, or intoxicated. To discourage these negative
behaviors, changes can be made to infrastructure and society.

First
off, when I say infrastructure, I’m referring to all the systems
that surround an active driver, such as their car, insurance, and
phone. This infrastructure can start to encourage drivers to drive
safely in numerous ways. Cars could take note from the Ford Fusion’s
Efficiency Leaves and apply that to a system that promotes safe
driving; or they could all become self-driving, which eliminates the
problems tied to people completely. Additionally, more insurance
agencies could offer reduced rates for safe driving, and more phones
could be designed to shut off while a car is in motion (excluding
certain functions). All of these changes could reduce the number of
fatalities, either by encouraging change in driver’s behaviors or
removing their choices from the equation entirely.

Changes to society
could consist of making some unsafe driving habits severely frowned
upon, or practically unthinkable. For example, letting a friend drive
drunk or not having a designated driver. It’s hard to say how these
changes could be made, but it could come from early education and
instilment of the target values, or by something trending on the
internet. Changing our societal norms is by far the hardest to
accomplish, but I think it can be done with time and effort.

I
haven’t been in a car accident before, but I personally think my
brother is a terrible driver, or at least he used to be (it’s been
a while since I’ve driven with him). We used to drive to school
together and I rarely felt safe when he was driving. There was one
left turn in particular that he would almost always make that was
illegal. To avoid having to wait for the stoplight, he would cross
the double solid yellow center line to drive in through the oncoming
lane’s exit to a strip mall parking lot. He also was a distracted
driver, playing music loud and messing around with his phone while
driving. Most of my memories from that time are pretty vague, but I
know for a period of time his driving made me scared and I was glad
it was only for 7 minutes a day to school.

I
think there are a few ways I could improve my driving, as well as the
driving of others. For example, I could become a better driver if I
did it more. I usually take public transit now, so I don’t need to
drive a lot. There was a period where I didn’t drive for 10+ weeks.
Admittedly I was studying abroad and couldn’t drive even if I
wanted to, but it still wasn’t until a month or so after that that
I drove a car. I would also be a safer driver if my car worked
better. It’s maintained pretty well, but the steering on it can’t
make any tight maneuvers that would be helpful in an emergency.
Additionally, since it’s an older car, it doesn’t have a
rear-view camera, which I think would make it safer to drive. I could
also review my emergency preparation. I know how to change a tire and
jumpstart my car, and I have AAA’s number saved on my phone, but
it’s been a few years since Drivers ed, and I don’t
remember everything.

The
best way I can help others become safer drivers is to model good
driving myself. I can also influence the driving of my family
members by pointing out anything they might have done that was
dangerous/illegal and to help them keep an eye on the condition of
their cars. I have a couple of younger siblings that I can instill
the value of safety in. I already tell them to stay on the correct
side of the road when we’re walking. I can model safe choices for
them at a young age which will help set the norm for them when they
are older and become drivers themselves.