In the Drivers Seat

Jenna Viola

In the Driver’s Seat

Driving is an important aspect of everyday life in America. In 2019, there were 229 million licensed drivers according to Statista.com. This number is only increasing. With the increasing number of licensed drivers, it is important to note the dangers of driving. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially for young drivers. It is important to practice driving safety, in order to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers in all vehicles.

Driving education is an important step to take towards being a safe driver. Driving education allows the students to learn how to use a vehicle, the dangers of a vehicle, and how to practice safety while driving under the supervision of a trained professional. I took driving education when learning to drive and found It very beneficial. I learned what to do in different situations when driving. I found that some of my friends who did not take driving education were unaware that these issues could arise and did not know what to do if they were to happen. Driving education is important in decreasing the number of deaths due to driving because it teaches new drivers the rules of the road and how to handle the vehicle. It also teaches that you are not the only one on the road and that you also have to be alert to the actions of other drivers. This was one of the most important things I was taught in drivers’ education because when you are a new driver, you are focused on making sure that you are doing everything correct. You often forget that other drivers may not be following the same rules of the road as you are. Once driving students are able to learn this information, driving accidents may go down. Most driving accidents are preventable as long as proper precautions are taken. Drivers’ education is the best way to learn these precautions.

There are many steps drivers can take to reduce the number of deaths due to driving accidents. The first step would be to take a driving education course. As said earlier, driving educations is a way for drivers to learn the rules of the road and how to take precaution when driving. If more people were aware of the correct rules of the road, there would be less accidents. Another way is to make sure your car is regularly checked for safety malfunctions, such as issues with the airbags, and to pay attention to any recalls on vehicle parts. This would provide safety in case that an accident was to happen. This step is often overlooked by drivers, as it is something people assume should always be in working condition. Although this would be ideal, there is always a possibility that there could be an issue. On top of all this, make sure all people in the vehicle are wearing seatbelts. Seatbelts will stop you from being launched from the vehicle or moving around while there is a collision. To ensure the safest drive possible, all these steps should be taken.

I was in a car accident with my mother when I was young. My mom was making a left turn and the driver behind us decided to pass us on the left side of the car. This caused a T-bone car accident. The other driver had hit the backseat left side door, which was where I was seated in the car. Fortunately, we were all safe and uninjured from the accident. This incident has stuck with me while I was growing up and caused me a lot of anxiety when I was learning to drive. Incidents like these show that a driver has to be ready for anything because you never know what other drivers are doing or if they are under the influence. Another example happened a few years ago with my cousin. We were at a family party, and he had been drinking alcohol. He then tried to drive. My family stopped him, but he put up a fight. At one point, he did get in the car and drove up the yard. My other cousin took his keys and drove him home. This was a very scary incident and could have ended terribly. My cousin is very lucky that other people were there to stop him from making that decision that would have ruined his life. This incident taught me that it is important to watch out for others, as they may not be in the right mindset to make logical and safe decisions.

There are many steps I would take to become a safer driver. One way is to make sure all passengers have a seatbelt on. Usually, if I am driving adults who are sitting in the backseat, I don’t tell them to put on their seatbelt. This is something I would change because I understand the importance of wearing a seatbelt in case of an accident. I would also make sure all passengers have seatbelts on when riding in someone else’s car. I am guilty of not wearing a seatbelt in the backseat if the ride is short. I know that accidents could happen at any time, so I will be more cautious of this in the future. I will also not use my phone while driving. I often use a GPS on my phone to get directions. In the future, I will try to not look at the screen because it is dangerous to have your eyes off of the road when driving. If someone is driving with me, I will ask them to use the GPS and to direct me according to what it says. In another person’s car, I will offer to hold the GPS for them and tell them where to go. This would help the driver to keep focus on the road instead of trying to concentrate on two things at once. It is important to not only improve your own safety, but to help others improve theirs.

Driving safety is very important. Without the proper driving education, car accidents increase, which could cause serious injury or death. Most car accidents are easily preventable if people remain educated on driving safety and the rules of the road.