The Most Imperative Rule of Driving – Being Responsible!

Anyone that gets behind the wheel should have a deep understanding of the rules of the road. This is crucial to ensure the safety of themselves and others. When driving, you are responsible for the safety of everyone around you – yourself, passengers, and pedestrians. This is why reckless driving or being ignorant of proper safety measures is so irresponsible. Drivers must be educated on how to drive properly and undergo the right precautions when driving. An individual must know how to operate the car correctly and be aware of their environment.

To reduce the number of driver-related deaths, drivers must take it upon themselves to be attentive of their surroundings. They should avoid people, cars, and other miscellaneous items that may be in their way. They should pay close attention to the street signs, road markers, and traffic lights, as they are a guide for every car on the street. Drivers should take heed to the quality of the road and the weather, as this will cause them to adjust the manner of their driving to protect the car and everyone in it. They should also be aware of the condition of their vehicle, and if it is fit to drive without any service needing to be done. For example, a driver should be aware if they have faulty brakes. If they’re not, it will exponentially heighten their risk of a collision with another car, leading to an accident.

In addition to paying attention, drivers must also make it a point to know the laws concerning driving. In the U.S, each state has its own laws concerning driving. Furthermore, traffic flow will be different depending upon the population of an area and what time of day you’re driving. For example, in Los Angeles at 5:00 P.M, there will be much more traffic than in Memphis at 10:00 A.M. Los Angeles is more urban and population dense than Memphis. Also, 5:00 P.M. is when the average person gets off work, meaning there are going to be more cars on the road. Drivers must take this into account.

I’ve only been in a few minor car accidents. One time, my mother was at a red light while driving us home from the store. We were talking and singing along to music quite off-key when suddenly, there was an interrupting thud that came from behind the car. “Shoot!” my mother exclaimed. She then got out of the car and approached the back of the vehicle. She asked if my sister and I were okay, to which we replied with a unanimous “yes”. We were physically fine, just startled. She told us not to worry, and that she would take care of it. I saw her inspect the bumper and trunk of her car through the rear-view mirror. The other driver then got out of his car and began discussing something with my mother. Luckily, there wasn’t a dent in either of their cars – just a miniscule scratch left on the other person’s beige sedan. My mom had gotten a black car, and this was the exact reason why. If anything bumped into her car (with limited force), there wouldn’t be any marks left and the car would stay looking pristine as can be. Though this was a trivial event in my life, I’m always reminded of it when I ponder the notion of careless driving. If the light we were stopped at had been on the edge of a slope or bottom of a hill, things would have most likely ended catastrophically. It’s vital that drivers are always alert and on high guard when driving.

As an individual, something I can do to become a safer and dependable driver is to check my blind spots more often. When I drive, I tend to assume that others will observe my signals while driving, whether it be my blinkers, headlights, hazard lights, etc. I usually infer this because I give the fellow cars my forewarning signal much time in advance. This is particularly dangerous, though, because not everyone pays attention to these signs. No matter how good of a driver you think you may be, it is critical to drive defensively so that you can protect yourself and those around you. This is what I would encourage other drivers to do, as well. Make a habit of being cautious and watchful when operating a vehicle. Also, be aware of your physical and emotional state before and during your time behind the wheel. Do not put yourself or passengers in danger because of any bodily or mental issue. The greatest tip one can follow as a driver is rather simple: be responsible.