The Risks of Driving

When you get behind the wheel of a 2 ton killing machine, you have to be in control of that machine at all times and accept all risks that come with the privilege of having a license. On average, there are 118 fatal car crashes every day in the United States. This means that there is an average of 43,070 fatal vehicular accidents every year, not counting all of the deaths from when a car hits a person outside of a vehicle. This makes driving one of the most potent killers in the United States, especially for young drivers that have minimal experience behind the wheel. That is why Drivers Educational classes and other educational training is so important.

In order to reduce the growing number of fatal car crashes, we must first teach others what to do in certain situations. When I was participating in driver education classes, I was peppered with various questions. These included, “What would you do if a deer ran out in front of you” or, “What would you do if you cannot see the center line while driving into someone’s headlights or into the sun?” During these classes, I was asked so many questions that I felt as if I were suffocating. However, as a more experienced driver, I realize that I ask myself these questions on a regular basis, and that when I’m in those situations, I am capable of answering them extremely quickly. I also realized that constantly asking these questions to myself, I have become more aware of my surroundings. This makes me, and other drivers, less likely to encounter a collision, which could potentially contribute to the 43,070 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States. Another way to reduce the number of fatal motor vehicle accidents would be to put young drivers into simulated situations that force them to think quickly. This would enable young drivers to learn from experience and allow instructors to target and fix any mistakes that drivers make with no injuries or damage. 

In personal experience, I have only been in one accident. This was when there was a lot of traffic and my step-father’s attention was drawn to the middle screen, where he was trying to use the GPS system. During this time, he was moving forward at about 20 mph and did not notice the car in front of us had stopped, so he hit them with enough force to break our front fender off and put a sizable dent in the back of the other car. This is an example of the dangers of distracted driving, one of the leading causes of accidents in the United States according to the California DMV, causing 65 to 80 percent of all collisions.

Another example of distracted driving would be when I was in the backseat of a friend’s car and they were messing around with each other. The passenger was making loud noises, the other rider in the backseat of the car was poking the neck of the driver, and the driver themselves were on their phone periodically. All of this occurred while the driver weaved in and out of the traffic that was on the highway, nearly colliding with multiple vehicles. I became a backseat driver, trying to control the commotion and the actions of the driver.

When speeding down a backroad, one of my friends lost control of his vehicle, hydroplaning and ultimately rolling six times and smashing into a tree. The cause of this, distracted driving and speeding. During his drive, he was driving 15 miles per hour over the speed limit on a wet road. While this is still dangerous on a normal road, it is almost a death sentence on more narrow roads. Due to this accident, he was hospitalized for three days, going through extensive surgeries in order to keep things such as his ear, needing a total of 30+ stitches. 

In order to avoid these situations myself, I make sure to follow all rules and laws. I try to be observant when driving, making sure that I try to digest everything around me, whether it is cars or the side of a dark road. I also ask many questions when driving with other, more experienced drivers, guaranteeing that I am more prepared for any situation that arises. When driving by myself, I try to talk to myself. I do this in order to hear my thoughts and determine if it is a good idea to act on the idea that I have in my brain. I do not touch my phone while driving, but still struggle to stop looking at the center screen. There are many improvements that I can make to my driving, so I will continue to enhance my skills by practicing in different situations.

Drivers Education is one of the most important aspects of a vehicle and the driver behind the wheel. If one participates in distracted driving, whether it is from looking at one’s phone or being distracted by loud noises from passengers, it makes handling the vehicle more dangerous and could lead to a fatal occurrence. In order to avoid these situations, one must focus more on how they are driving, making sure that they think of many solutions to problems that may occur due to their surroundings. If one is not paying attention, following traffic laws, or is inexperienced, their next trip could be fatal.