A Safe and Educated Driver

A Safe and Educated Driver

Driving is something that all kids look forward to, not only because of the excitement of sitting behind the wheel, but also because of the many benefits that come along with it; driving yourself instead of relying on your parents, setting your own schedule, and being able to hang out with friends more often are just a few. However, many young drivers fail to acknowledge the risks that can come with driving because they may almost feel “invincible” when they start out. However, many steps and actions can be taken in order to save more lives that are lost from accidents. When I was learning how to drive, my dad would always tell me, “Make sure that your driving is making life easier for the drivers around you”; if more drivers can adopt this type of attitude while driving, the road can most likely become a safer environment to be in.

Driver education is an important factor in learning how to be a safe and responsible driver. In the course you are taught the different road signs, the rules of the road (ex. what to do when a police car, with its sirens and lights on, is on the road), various parking techniques, and also gain valuable driving experience. However, not every new driver starts out with driver education- in fact, many may never take it. This may, for example, lead to inexperienced drivers showing up to their road tests, passing it, and then ending up on the roads without any real knowledge of driving rules; what this results in is a host of uneducated drivers who can potentially harm other drivers. If more teenagers went through driver education, and learned about the rules of the road, driving could become safer and accidents could be regularly avoided; the number of deaths resulting from car accidents would ultimately be lowered.

Fortunately, I have never been involved in a car accident, but I have witnessed family members and friends drive irresponsibly by using their phone, not having both hands on the wheel, or not obeying the speed limit. However, many steps can be taken to reduce the number of driving-related deaths caused by factors such as these. First, resisting the urge to use your phone can help in making driving safer. It may not seem like a big deal to some drivers, as staying up to date on texts, emails, or social media could seem more important. However, what if in that split second you took to look down and reply to a text, a car suddenly pulled out in front of you and t-boned your car? Accidents like these can be avoided by keeping your eyes on the road at all times. Additionally, paying attention to road signs and traffic signals can create safer driving. For instance, many young drivers like to “test how fast they can drive” and completely disregard the speed limit; this puts the driver and other drivers in danger. Another example is recognizing “no turn on red signs”; many drivers could ignore these signs, turn right at a red light, and hit another car. However, just waiting the couple extra seconds to turn could keep all drivers safe. Furthermore, being aware of the weather conditions also makes for safer driving. Knowing when to drive slower in the rain or snow, how to use the defroster, or even making sure you have sunglasses all contribute to easier driving. Many more steps can be taken to keep the roads safe, but all of these should be applied to each driver’s driving to become a safer driver and make others safer on the road; putting your phone on “do not disturb” while driving, always recognizing the different road signs around you, putting safety before urgency in different weather conditions and in general, taking driver education, being aware of your surroundings (keep your head “on a swivel”), and obeying the rules of the road- even if no one is watching.