Driving: The Truth

People look past it daily. It’s a common thing. It’s a part of life. We couldn’t imagine life without it. This is driving. It sounds so simple, yet it can be deadly. Not driving properly results in thousands of dollars, fatal injury, fires, and death. When I was in drivers ed I remember the constant graphic videos of things/people getting injured, the pictures of damaged cars, and the unbelievable cost of cars to get fixed. Even though these images were very hard to see at the moment, it stuck. It’s hard to admit but driving can, and does, cause death. Drivers need to be aware of each and every risk when in the vehicle. Drivers being aware of the risks naturally makes the driver want to prevent them, which results in being more cautious. The driver is more likely to follow the speed limit, be aware of surroundings, and notice any distractions around the way. Without drivers education the driver may not be aware of the risks, and do whatever they choose. Before driving, one should make sure that their vehicle is safe and would not cause any risks or harm along the drive. Make sure the tire pressure is good so the tires don’t pop, the engine is good so there is no smoke, etc. The driver should also be aware of the risks. Acknowledging that there are huge risks and knowing how to prevent them is crucial before the journey. When my older sister was 16 and I was around 11 years old, she was taking her driving test at a post office so my dad and I decided to wait inside the post office. Where we were sitting we were facing the glass doors, with about a 20 foot hallway separating us from the door. When my sister was out driving, this older lady crashed into the glass door in front of us, smashing the door into pieces and leaving the building damaged. Luckily she was alright and so was my family, but she did this by accidentally mistaking the gas for the breaks. This is important to keep in mind that if you have any doubt in mind that you may potentially be unsafe driving due to age or a condition, it’s smart to let someone who’s confident drive instead. To become a safer driver, you should make sure you have safety precautions on your vehicle, like an emergency break, and hazard lights. If you live somewhere that snows, like me, make sure every winter you get tires with a stronger traction so you’re able to grip the road when ice is present. Going along with driving in the snow, make sure to be extremely cautious, drive slow, break sooner than you already would without the snow, and turn on your headlights. The golden rule for driving is to always follow the speed limit. The speed limit is there for a reason, to protect you and others, so it must be followed. To ensure that others are aware of the safety factors of driving I would put posters up in my school so people know the risks when driving, and how to minimize these risks, as well as share this information via social media.