Drivers Safety and Responsibility

Joseph Sims-Drivers Safety and Responsibility Essay

The importance of driver’s safety is vast but most importantly focuses on the importance of safety. Education helps us realize that driving is a not only a privilege but responsibility. Like Spiderman, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Ultimately, one needs to realize drivers ed saves lives. Nobody just jumps behind the wheel and is expected to know the roadways. Nobody is a perfect driver, but the dangers of the roadways are not just about other drivers. The roadways have many hazards unknown to new drivers and knowing how to deal with each event properly and safely can save lives.

Each of us has a responsibility not only to ourselves but the general welfare of the public. Some ways we can prevent deaths from driving related accidents are continuing to implement hands free technology into transportation. My thought is the more tech equals less wreck. With new safety features like backup cameras, assisted breaking, and even some cars can almost predict accidents before they happen, Volvo was the first I have seen with this tech. Sadly, technology cannot save us from all of the dangers of the roadways. We need to just out down the cell phones, no message is that import to risk your life along with others around you. I also feel that continuing to find new and safe ways to discourage drinking and driving which is one of the main causes of accidents. Do not drink and get behind a wheel, people need to be treated accordingly, and need to know the consequences.

In 2005, I had received one of the worst phone calls of my life. At 21, you do not want phone calls telling you one of your best friends and coworkers have died in an automobile accident. While serving in the Navy, Matt Stark went home to visit family during the holidays. We had just gotten home from a 6-month deployment and Matt was told to take vacation time, he had too much built up. Just like every other time we shake hands and bro hug and talk some sort of smack and the ill see you when you get back. That day never came, Airman Stark never came back. See, Matt was traveling down a lonely road in Minnesota and did not have a seatbelt on. It had rained the day before and then froze. Matt had hit some black ice and lost control and flipped his vehicle. Matt had suffered a broken neck and died at the scene, he was 23 years old and my friend. This day sent shockwave through my unit; Stark was very well liked by all. Because of this event, I have never taken driving safety for granted, they said if Matt would have just had his seatbelt on he most likely would have lived.

Ultimately, we all have a choice. We make choices everyday that can alter our lives and the lives of others. Next time you get behind the wheel, think about others not just yourself. Annually thousands of people are killed on U.S. roadways and most of which these deaths could have been prevented. A bit of education about driver safety and responsibility can save lives. Do not text and drive or drink and drive people are depending on you to be responsible.