Safe Driving

When it comes to driving, far too many people lack consideration for others. They drive impatiently with only one thing in mind: getting to their destination as quickly as possible. However, this mindset is extremely dangerous because in thinking this way, people fail to consider the fact that one wrong move, one minor distraction, or one instance of road rage can end lives. The first step in creating safe drivers is effective drivers education. It is not enough to simply teach someone how to drive, they must also learn the importance of courtesy and the potential risks associated with driving. Personally, I have heard far too many stories of people saying they have never read the Utah Driver Handbook, yet have their license. I was once in the car with someone who did not know what a center turn lane was, but claimed to have read the handbook. Proper driver education is absolutely vital to prevent unsafe drivers from being on the road. When people do not know the laws and dangers of driving, they do not care as much about being a safe driver, leading to crashes and deaths. 

Some may disagree, but making it harder to pass a driver education course is an important step to create safer drivers. It is only required to take driver’s education for one semester for high school students, but for many people, this is not enough time to learn a life-long skill like driving. When introducing driving, it must be presented as a responsibility rather than a fun activity. It can be exciting to learn to drive, but people must also have a reasonable fear surrounding the operation of such dangerous machinery. In driver’s education, I learned about cases of teenage deaths caused by careless driving, and this is the first step to teaching people to be considerate of one another while driving. Emphasis on the importance of empathy can be the difference between life or death. Teaching people that someone may be driving slow because they are a student driver, or that patience is key because everyone has to be somewhere important, or that you must drive with the flow of traffic, or to always use the shoulder when turning are all great ways to introduce the idea of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes to be a safer driver. 

When I was ten years old, I was crossing a neighborhood street near a busy road with my friend and a car stopped to wait for us to cross, but a truck came behind the car and hit the corner of the rear end of the car. This caused the waiting car to spin, hitting my friend and me. I do not remember being hit, and neither does my friend. I only remember waking up on the sidewalk as paramedics were trying to ask me questions and looking over to see a distraught family also sitting on the sidewalk. Luckily, I did not have any broken bones, but I did have bruises and road rash over my whole body. If the truck had taken the time to look around and slow down to wait for the car to turn, the accident could have been prevented. It is instances like these that patience, attentiveness, and calm decision-making are essential to keeping everyone safe on the road. 

Personally, I can do a better job at remaining calm behind the wheel. When people do something inconsiderate while driving, I tend to become upset by their lack of care, which can become distracting. However, it would be helpful for me to keep a level mindset and remember that the most important aspect of driving is that every person arrives at their destination safely. As long as no one is hurt, I must remember to take a deep breath and continue on my way. Another way that I can be a better driver is to always go the speed limit, or slower under unsafe circumstances. On the weekends, I drive an hour and a half to see my family, and because I do this drive so often, I sometimes find myself speeding by about 10-15 miles per hour. To prevent this, I will avoid the fast lane, regularly check my speed, and ensure that I am not moving too fast for the weather conditions. 

Creating safe roads for everyone starts on the individual level. If even one person is driving erratically, it could result in injuries or even deaths. While being a safe driver yourself is wonderful, it is not enough to ensure the safety of everyone. Encouraging family and friends to drive safely, or even refusing to ride with them otherwise, can also create safer roads. Overall, obeying driving laws, being thoughtful, and staying attentive are crucial factors to reduce deaths related to driving.