Safe Driving Saves Lives

When a teenager is at the time in their life where they can start driving on their own, it can be exciting but also nerve wrecking. Parents will always want their kid to be safe, not be on their phone, pay attention to the road, and make sure they know the rules of the road before they let them go out on their own. Teens will demonstrate these factors in the car with their parents or driving instructor, but many will toss those things to the side when they start driving alone or with their friends. Driver’s education, being safe, and being smart is very important when it comes to driving.

Before you can get your license, you have to complete a driver’s education course where teachers prepare you with information before you’re out on your own. They teach you how to be safe on the road and what not to do. When completing that course, you learn road signs, how to avoid accidents, and what different things mean so you are prepared for when you’re driving and you know what to expect. If people drive without completing that course, they will not be as prepared because they did not have a teacher lecturing them about things to know in order to be safe. Studies from University of Nebraska–Lincoln UNL News Releases say, “11.1 percent of the driver’s education cohort was involved in a car crash, compared to 12.9 percent of those who did not take driver’s education.” It is important to participate in a driver education course. It will help you be a better and safer driver because you will be aware of more things.

Making sure that you are comfortable and trust yourself behind the wheel is key to being a good, safe driver. If people get in a car and are stiff and nervous the whole time, they may begin to panic which could result in an accident. Many drivers get in accidents that end in death, and things like this can be so avoidable. For example, many car accidents are due to people being distracted on their phone. All it takes is one second of your eyes not being on the road for something to happen. You could run off the road, hit somebody, etc. Another cause of many accidents is drunk driving. People are confident that they can drive after drinking or they are too scared to call someone to come get them, so they drive and it doesn’t end well a lot of the time. There are many steps you can take to avoid crashes resulting in death by obeying the law, paying attention to road signs, staying focused, not driving while intoxicated, don’t drive while tired, but most importantly, pay attention to your surroundings and on the road.

Being in a car accident is something that I worry about sometimes, but I have never been in one because I drive responsibly. There are often times when I see my peers speeding, swerving all over the road, and getting distracted by their passengers. People think it’s “cool” to show off and do silly things in their vehicle until they find themselves losing control. Some of my friends and peers are also new to driving, so when they have to do something such as merging or driving on curvy roads, they get a little nervous. My mom experienced something like this when she was 17 years old. One day, she was driving around her and her cousin. They were having fun together, talking, laughing, listening to music, and not thinking about any possible dangers there could be. She began to drive down a really curvy road. She was going around a turn and when she was going around the turn, a truck came around it on the other side of the road. My mom panicked and swerved off the side of the road. Her car did multiple flips, but thankfully everyone was okay. She was new to driving, and she got scared going around a sharp turn with oncoming traffic. It is important to stay calm and trust yourself when driving.

Being safe on the road and always thinking of ways I can be a better driver go through my head on a daily basis. I am always encouraging my friends and family to stay focused while driving because accidents can be so avoidable. Staying alert and aware of the road when driving can help save your life, and the lives of others.