Traversing Our Nation’s Roads

In the United States people drive everywhere, all the time. Driving is a huge part of our lives. However, due to the lack of proper driving education in our country many people unfortunately lose their lives in unnecessary crashes. There are many strategies one can use to be safer on the roads and prevent accidents. A proper driver’s education will reduce the number of deaths on the road because it informs individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate our complex network of roads in a safe way.

The first step that can be taken in road safety is simply learning the fundamentals. This means that in your drivers course you would learn how to appropriately use your car lights and signals, react to emergency vehicle sirens, as well as follow traffic laws such as staying below the speed limit and obeying traffic signs. Already this would decrease the risk taken while driving. People are enticed to get places faster and end up speeding, but dangers that come with speeding include reduced reaction time and increased severity of collisions. Oftentimes speeding wouldn’t really get you there faster anyway so it best be avoided. Additionally, you should also learn how to use your mirrors and make sure your intentions on the road are clear to other drivers.

An extremely important safety measure that can be taken is eliminating distractions. All too often someone is texting, eating, or otherwise distracted and ends up causing a wreck or worse. Avoiding distractions ensures that the driver’s attention remains focused on the road and only the road. This involves anything that could take a hand away from the steering wheel or take your eyes off the road, such as a cell phone or food. There are potentially huge consequences to driving while distracted and similarly it’s essential to not drive under the influence. If under the influence you can always use rideshares, cabs, or find a willing and sober driver to get to your destination. I have unfortunately had to experience driving behind someone who was distracted by their phone. This created an unnecessary dangerous situation for other drivers.

Another important aspect of a driver’s education is learning how to react calmly to challenging situations on the road in order to prevent escalation or potential accidents. For example, when my family and I go on road trips it’s common that my Dad tries to adjust the GPS while driving. This is dangerous, and.a positive alternative would be to simply ask for assistance from a passenger or wait until the car is stopped somewhere safe.

Defensive driving has been coming more and more into style, and it’s a great way to reduce the chances of an accident. A driver must resist external pressures and remain vigilant to potential hazards. Although mistakes are inevitable, a well educated driver is ready to respond effectively. You can only control your own driving, so it’s a good idea to beware of possibly dangerous situations with other vehicles. An illustration of this would be driving a safe distance from other vehicles to ensure enough time to react. On this note, when turning it’s wise to wait for a good opportunity. Even if you think a turn looks safe, it might be a smarter idea to just wait if it happens to be close. Similarly, allow cars switching lanes to go in front of you rather than trying to speed up and beat them, an easily avoided mistake that could prevent a pointless casualty. Another tenet of defensive driving, be patient and considerate of other drivers and avoid road rage. When a car is driving erratically or slower than conventional speed remember that they could be an elderly driver, a new driver, or someone unfamiliar with the location. Don’t let their poor driving cause you to make even poorer decisions.

You should always keep up-to-date with changes in road regulations and ensure that you remain well-informed and can adapt to evolving road conditions. Education should be viewed as an ongoing process, enhancing skills and knowledge throughout a driver’s lifetime. Educating individuals about driving safely and the potential dangers of driving promotes safer roads and in the end would reduce the number of crashes across the United States. By taking these steps to be better and safer drivers individuals are able to contribute to the collective effort of making American roads safer for everyone. Road safety is not just an individual responsibility, but a shared commitment to saving lives and preventing unnecessary tragedies on our nation’s roads.