The Impotance of Safe Driving

The importance of Safe Driving:

By. Kylie Ingram

Driving and transportation are both a necessity and a privilege in today’s world. To many, getting your driver’s license is often viewed as a rite of passage and a symbol of maturity. Driving has an appeal to a variety of people as it offers freedom and a sense of individuality, especially at a young age. However, there is more to operating a vehicle then simply acquiring a plastic card. In most states, people are required to take drivers ED to learn the rules of the road and to drive safely. These few courses could be the matter of life or death. Without an understanding on how to operate a car and drive with others on the road, people are at risk for causing traffic jams, accidents, or even fatalities.

It is important to give access to printable resources as well as physical experience to all drivers from every walk of life. There are many people who face financial or parental limitations when it comes to roadway driving. This puts them at a disadvantage as they cannot develop the same “street smarts” as their peers. Giving people access to more practice behind the wheel can help people be more comfortable and make smarter choices as an independent driver, which would lower fatalities. Another important factor in driving related deaths is the involvement of substances. While schools do teach about the dangers of driving under influence, they seldom incorporate preventative measures. Instead of simply teaching to abstain, they should talk about how to use programs like Lyft and Uber, so if people are ever in a situation where driving could be dangerous, they have a safe way to get home.

It is no secret the danger reckless driving can have on an individual, yet people do it anyway. It seems some people have a sense of indestructibility when it comes to driving, and it will likely not change until they are experiencing the consequences or flashback from their peers. It is important for people who see reckless behavior to not stand idly by and put themselves in situations where they feel uncomfortable. I was once a passenger in a friend’s car when they decided to speed. When prompted, they explained that they “did it all the time” and that “there is no reason to worry”. For some, they would have dropped the conversation and sat at the edge of their seat until they arrived, hopefully in one piece. However, like me, they should continue to prompt the driver until the behavior was corrected or they exited the vehicle. This acceptance of unsafe behavior stems from a lack of confidence, which is the same issue drivers without practice experience. Only when people an be confident in themselves, as a driver, a passenger, or someone without the ability to drive, can fatalities be lowered or abolished while driving.