The Importance of Safe Driving

On the morning of March 17th, I awoke with the uneasy feeling of nervousness knowing what was to come later that day. I knew in my mind and in my heart that I was not a bad driver and my driver instructor constantly reassured me to just be calm and I will be fine. Nevertheless, I couldn’t get the what-ifs out of my mind. The time came and immediately leaving the DMV, I scraped my bumper. I thought that I was done before we had really even begun; but, my evaluator did not mention it, so I went on with the test. I did everything else fine and as we pulled back into the DMV, I was expected and automatically failed. On the contrary, she handed me back my evaluation sheet with zero errors and said “congratulations,” with a warm smile. I was filled with both relief and excitement.

As I received my license and became more comfortable with driving as the months went on, the fears of the ‘what-ifs,’ never ended. What if someone suddenly braked in front of me? What if someone swerves off of the road and into me? What if an animal suddenly runs across the road? These constant thoughts fill my brain while driving. It is a scary thought of not knowing what could happen or what couldn’t. Not only do outside factors play a role in crashes, but bad drivers seem to be the number one cause. Just because you are not an experienced driver, does not mean you are a bad driver. Knowing better, yet still driving unsafely, risking yourself and others is what makes a bad driver. Not only does it instill fear of those inside when one is swerving or unaware of their environment when driving, it creates anxiety and fear in those driving around this bad driver. Fear on the road is not a good quality to have when driving. Which is why driver education should be taken very seriously. At times, it may be inconvenient in your schedule, but at the end of the day safe driving is only accomplished if everyone is on the same page. The rules of the road are of utmost importance to steer away from trouble. Education and becoming more experienced is vital in reducing hesitance on the road, therefore, reducing the risk of getting in a crash.

Some ways we can accomplish a reduction in the amount of vehicle accidents and vehicle related deaths is do have the right mindset, take drivers education/ practice seriously, understand the risks of being on the road, always have your seatbelt on/ make sure your passengers do as well, and under no circumstance drive under the influence. These seem like so many simple tasks, yet many still have trouble completing them. I’d like to go into more depth about the consequences of driving under the influence. Not only is it heavily looked down upon and judged, it is an offense that can put you behind bars, you are greatly risking your life and the lives of innocent people. For example, ex Raiders player, Henry Ruggs, was the main suspect in a fatal crash, killing 23 year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. Ruggs was said to have been going 156 mph just before impact. His blood-alcohol level was also measured to be more than twice the legal limit of Nevada, which is 0.08%. As more details become public regarding this incident, my heart aches more and more for the family of Tina, knowing this entire tragedy could have been avoided.

Personally, I have never had the experience of being in a car crash. I thank God everyday for continuously watching over me and my loved ones while on the road. Because even if someone is the safest driver in the world, someone else could still potentially take their life away if they are driving unsafely, Tina being a prime example of this. Although I have never experienced a crash first-hand, I have plenty of family and friends that have. As they go into details about the stories of emotions felt, it fills me with great worry to know their situation could have easily turned out into a story like Tina’s. Close to a year ago now, a close friend of mine experienced great loss due to a car accident. Although no other cars played a role in the causation of the accident, the damage that was left behind because of it, still brings tremendous distress and agony. I don’t think that will ever be something that goes away, but because of this, the thought of how quickly our entire life can change in an instant has never left my mind. The fear behind that tomorrow is not promised, is undeniably true. It has inspired me everyday to not take advantage of my family, friends, loved ones, or the world around me. It has also motivated me greatly to become a better driver. I can do this by always being aware of my surroundings, making sure my passengers and I all have our seatbelts on before taking off, being sure to always go the speed limit, and to drive every time as if my 74 year-old Mexican Grandmother, who is not ever afraid to criticize or giver her opinion, is always with me.

All in all, safe driving is so critical to our generation and those to come. Not only is it smart, it is the right thing to do. Safety should always be the number one priority when driving, no matter the age of drivers or passengers. It should always be remembered that by keeping yourself and those with you safe, you are keeping those driving around you safe as well. As I stated before, tomorrow is not promised, it is important to make the most of your life and do good for the world today.