Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road

Last winter me and my mom got into a car accident. My mom was dropping me off at the train station and all of the sudden a huge white van hits the rear end. Thankfully in this situation no one got hurt. That following summer I witnessed a car collide into my cousin’s vehicle. My cousin was waiting at a four-way stop and he was about to go when all of the sudden a car collided into him and sped off. This situation, unfortunately, led my cousin and his friends to a trip to the emergency room. 

I think these two experiences can be used to understand why driver’s education is so important to reducing the number of deaths. If the driver who hit our rear end had taken drivers education, he would know that you should keep a good amount of distance between you and the driver ahead of you. Similarly, the driver who collided into my cousin would know that you’re supposed to stop at a stop sign and that you should wait your turn at a four-way stop. In these two situations you understand two things: driver’s education teaches you the rules of the roads and it gives you an understanding of what is expected of you as a driver.

A great way to reduce the number of deaths is to keep yourself accountable. As long as you’re paying attention to the road and following the rules, you can avoid accidents on your part. Unfortunately, you can’t avoid bad drivers, but you can inform them. Informing others can reduce the number of deaths, if you see a close friend or family driver breaking the rules you should point it out. Keep close friends and family members accountable and maybe that will influence them to spread the word. Reducing the number of deaths caused by driving starts with you and those around you. 

A step to being a better driver is making sure you understand your state’s road rules. Another simple thing you can do is avoid distractions such as your phone, eating, drinking, or any other action that takes your attention away from the road. Lastly, make sure to keep your eyes wide open for any road signs. Make sure you’re slowing down or speeding up as needed and also make sure you’re not making turns that are not allowed. 

As a better driver you can help others be better drivers as well. As stated previously keep those around you accountable. You can make sure your family/friends are following road signs. If they make any turn or action that is illegal tell them, they may not be aware of this information. You can also offer to drive them if they seem intoxicated or have any issue that may impair their driving. You should hold them to the standards that you hold yourself when driving.

Overall, car accident deaths are avoidable and are increasing at an alarming rate each year. We should not feel hopeless instead we should try to take steps forward to diminish the problem. Start with yourself, make sure you are obeying the rules of the road and practicing good habits. You can also have your friends/family members on the journey with you, so that you and everyone around you are better drivers. You can make a difference and help avoid future car accident deaths.