The Serious Consequences of Driving

As a teenager I eagerly anticipate receiving my license. Driving gives me new opportunities and a sense of independence because I’m not dependent on adults to take me wherever I want. Teenagers can make more plans with friends and travel to locations they wouldn’t ordinarily visit if they had the freedom to drive without an adult’s supervision. Driving provides people all over the world with ease, independence, and accessibility, making it a crucial component of modern life. Driving, however, involves a number of grave implications, thus this privilege also comes with a substantial duty. Every time we get behind the wheel, we have control over both our own lives and the lives of others. This essay tries to highlight the need of driving responsibly and safely by highlighting the serious and widespread effects of driving.

To start, driving instruction is crucial for lowering the number of fatalities. For example, according to a recent study by the University of Nebraska, driver’s education considerably lowers collisions and moving infractions among newly licensed drivers. The study followed more than 150,000 juvenile drivers over the course of eight years. According to the study, young drivers who have not finished driver’s education are 75% more likely to receive a traffic ticket, 24% more likely to be involved in an accident that results in death or serious injury, and 16% more likely to have an accident.

The importance of drivers is to recognize the knowledge and awareness before and during driving. For example, driver education courses give aspiring drivers important information on traffic regulations, road signs, and defensive driving techniques. This educational foundation gives people the knowledge of their rights and obligations when driving, cultivating a greater awareness of potential hazards and the proper responses to them. With this information at hand, drivers are better equipped to make wise choices that can avert collisions and save lives. Additionally, drivers are given the knowledge they need to make safe judgments while driving by these rules and signs. For instance, speed restrictions aid in regulating vehicle speed and preventing accidents brought on by excessive speed. Moreover, defensive driving essentially entails following the law and driving sensibly. Some steps are keeping your eyes forward, driving slowly, respecting traffic rules, and telling your friends and family to do the same. There would be much fewer fatalities on the roads each year if we all constantly did these things. Furthermore, a personal experience of mine was when I saw my mom get hit from the side of her car when she was coming from work. It was a weekday, a Tuesday perhaps, and mom had just got done with work. My mom was driving home when the light had turned from red to green. My mother was struck from the side of the automobile by a woman in her 20s to 30s driving a truck who had proceeded to run the red light. My mom told me that when she got into that accident, the lady was texting while driving since she didn’t see the light turn red and ran it. As a result my mom had to get stitches and a cast since she broke her collarbone. Not only this but the lady had to pay for the medical bill as well as the damages of the car. This experience taught me that it is important to not get distracted while driving since it can cause major effects not only to you and your loved one but to others as well. Moving on, some steps people can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road are wearing seatbelts, avoid drunk driving, drowsy driving, distracted driving, and be careful in dangerous conditions. To start, Always wearing a seatbelt is the most important measure you can take to lessen your risk of dying in a car accident. According to estimates, using a seatbelt properly increases survival chances by 45–65%. Make sure everyone who is driving with you is wearing their seatbelt at all times while you are in the car. In Texas, seat belt rules are subject to primary enforcement, which means that a police officer may pull you over for just one infraction and that you might be subject to penalties and court fees of up to $200. Without a seat belt, it is against the law to ride in the front or backseat of a vehicle. Moving on: The leading factor in fatal car accidents is drunk driving. Never drive while intoxicated, and don’t let your family members take this chance either. Similar to drunk driving is drowsy driving and distracted Driving. Drowsy driving is when it is exceedingly unsafe to drive when you are very sleepy and really exhausted. A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05% can have the same impact on your body as 17 hours of awake time, according to research, so never push yourself above your limit. Moreover, texting while driving has become an increasingly serious issue, especially as smartphones become more widely used. Over 1.6 million accidents are caused each year in the US by drivers who are distracted by their messages, apps, GPS, and music. 2017 saw 404 fatalities brought on by texting and driving in Texas alone. This can be known as distracted driving. Lastly, people can be more careful in dangerous conditions. For example, 11% of fatal road accidents are caused by bad weather. But there are other factors that contribute to hazardous conditions, in addition to snow and thunderstorms, which have reduced visibility and slick or ice roadways. Construction can cause disruption by scattering debris, confounding other cars, requiring unexpected stops or slowdowns, or changing lanes. Another aspect that is concerning is the volume of traffic. Some drivers may exhibit aggressive and reckless behavior that contributes to collisions due to the stress of the circumstance and the congestion of vehicles.

Driving is a complicated activity with a wide range of serious repercussions. Driving has a wide range of repercussions, from immediate risks of accidents and injuries to long-term environmental and cultural effects. People must value safe and responsible driving, be aware of their responsibilities when operating a vehicle, and prioritize these behaviors. Education, information, and the strict enforcement of traffic laws are necessary to lessen these consequences and ensure that everyone may travel on our roads safely. The consequences of driving ultimately show how important it is for everyone to pledge to drive cautiously and sensibly.