Keep Your Eyes on the Road

Safety begins with you.

Always wear a seatbelt

Fatalities is not worth the text back.

Excellence in driving education

Tragic accidents occur when you’re irresponsible.

Yield! let other road users go first.

Road safety is a precaution everybody should have. Throughout the years there has been many cases reporting car accidents. In just one year, it has increased in just 4,000. Keep in mind that not only does this include cars but a lot motorcycles, busses, 18-wheelers and any for of vehicle you can imagine. Cars have probably been the most innovative invention ever created. Cars allows you to travel distances you could’ve never imagined before in such a short amount of time compared to other transportation systems.

Motorized vehicles became popular in the early 1900s but with the interest and hot demand problems started to surge. Nearly almost 100 years later after vehicles became popular there is one common issue, accidents. Accidents on the road are common and we see them all the time but them being common is not a good thing. On average every year over 30000 people die each year due to driving accidents that could’ve been prevented with proper driving education. The number one reason accidents while driving happen is distracted driving. While to some it might be common sense to focus on the road and not get distracted sadly drivers often perform other activities that lead to an accident. Texting while driving, eating, even day dreaming are the most common distractions that cause people to be involved in an accident.

When I was younger there was an event that changed my perspective towards drivers and driving. My family was on a trip during summer, we were heading towards Arkansas to visit family but then we witnessed an event that would have an effect on me many years later. The road we were in was two lanes each lane was a one-way lane, there was a vehicle behind us who had been behind us for about 5 miles already. We didn’t think much of it when suddenly that driver became distracted and went into the incoming traffic lane which caused him to crash into a SUV. We witnessed it all and was nothing we would’ve done to prevent this incident from happening. It’s been almost 8 years since and this event replays on my mind every time I get in a vehicle. As a driver it is important you are focused only on driving and never perform another activity while behind the wheel because you’re not only responsible for your safety, but you are responsible for everyone else on the road’s safety. Many people believe they are knowledgeable of driving rules and etiquette but that is not the case. Therefore, there is a wide variety of ways a person can educate themselves about driving and vehicles.

Driving schools offer driving classes and courses about traffic laws and safety. There are also online courses that provide you with all the necessary information and training to become a safer driver and earn your driving license. A non-qualified person should not be driving, someone who knows how to operate a vehicle but doesn’t have a license is not a qualified driver. To become a better and safer driver you can perform a series of steps for your protection and the protection of others. Inspecting your vehicle before each use for any loose items like bumpers, handles and wheels is a great way to increase your safety while driving. As people sometimes we get sick unexpectedly and that can be the case for a vehicle. Cars can malfunction unexpectedly but performing routine maintenance like an oil change or servicing the brake system are ways to prevent unexpected malfunctions that can lead to an accident. In today’s world a vehicle can easily become a hazard even if those aren’t the intended purposes a small distraction can cause endless amounts of negative outcomes.

There is a lot of steps we can start doing to reduce the number of deaths related to car accidents every year. One step which I believe can make the biggest difference is introducing driving education in school for young adults and teenagers. Another important step is bigger and harsher punishments for those breaking traffic laws and being distracted while driving. My hope is that when I start taking my own drivers education courses is that I will avoid the same accidents my family experienced. Lastly, I believe is the most important step to reduce driving accidents is to know when it’s right to drive and when is not and knowing the difference between an emergency and non-emergency. Under no circumstances should someone use a cellular device and take their eyes off the road. Safety begins with you.