How Safe Driving Can Save Lives

Getting your driver’s license is a privilege and not a right. It is one of the biggest responsibilities you will most likely have and is just as dangerous as holding a gun. Thousands of people die each year from driving related causes and that number is climbing each year. Taking drivers education is a big part of getting your licence. It teaches you the basics of driving and how to handle certain situations. Learning on paper is a lot different than actually getting behind the wheel. There are many risks that you face when driving and you have to know what to do to keep yourself and others safe. I remember my first time driving, I was so scared and remember thinking it looked so easy sitting in the passenger seat . I didn’t expect the pedals to be so sensitive or how quickly the car could accelerate. I remembered learning about the numbers of driving related deaths, but I didn’t think anything of it. I thought the main cause was people not paying attention. Texting and driving is causing an increasing number of deaths because you are so easily distracted. Maintaining driver awareness and avoiding driving distractions is the easiest way to save lives. Being aware of road conditions and utilizing vehicle safety features can also save lives. If it’s snowing outside and you decide to travel, expect delays and give yourself extra time, go slower than normal because of the weather conditions. I can’t count the number of cars I’ve found alongside the side of the road following a snowstorm. I assume it’s because they took the corner too fast and slid off of the road. Perhaps if they would have assessed the situation and drove slower, they wouldn’t have ended up there. I’ve learned that whatever it is that you’re speeding to get to, it’s still going to be there, even if you get there twenty minutes late. I have never been in a car accident, but many of my friends have. The cause of their accidents have always involved deer. They were either driving too fast or the animal ran out in front of them. Thankfully no one other than the deer has ever been injured, but all the accidents have ended up costing a lot of money to fix. The majority of the accidents have happened at night when my friends have been driving too fast and have limited vision. Teens don’t often think hitting a deer can put them in a life threatening situation, but anytime you are behind the wheel you are putting your life at risk. If the impact with the deer is hard enough, it could end up killing you or at the very least causing loss of control. Not all accidents are preventable, but if more drivers were responsible and followed the rules of the roads, there would be fewer accidents. Less people would have to mourn losing a loved one and every parent could feel confident that their child would return home safely. Like most mothers, when I first got my license, my mom was very nervous every time I left. Her rule was when I arrived at my destination, I was to text her and let her know I made it safely and again before I left. As annoying as it seemed at the time, I am glad that she cared enough to want to know my whereabouts. If I ever got into an accident, I would want someone to know where to look. Some of the basic steps I follow to ensure my safety and the safety of my passengers is to focus on the road and limit my distractions. It’s okay to talk to other people in the car, but don’t let them get in the way of you driving. I see many of my peers take their eyes off of the road when they are talking to someone and that scares me. They could veer into the other lane without noticing, and we could hit someone head on endangering ourselves and people in the other vehicle. Another way to limit your distractions is to put your phone away. I see people all of the time on their phones while driving. Texting someone or dialing to make a call takes your attention away from the road, it only takes seconds to cause an accident. Studies show that 26% of car accidents are caused by cellphones. Although 26% may not seem significant, it still accounts for more than 1.2 million car crashes annually. Research statistics also find that at any given moment, 11% of drivers are on their cell phone. It’s scary to think nearly 1 out of every 10 drivers you pass are distracted by their cell phone. So many lives out could be saved if people would lock their cell phones or shut them off. In recap, the best steps to make you a better driver is to focus on the road and put the phone away.