Why Driving is Very Important for Our Safety

I have autism and have been sitting in vehicles my whole life with other people driving. I have completely learned that being in drivers education is one of the best decisions I ever made. I feel a lot more safe on the roads and have been taught the correct rules with many tips and tricks while being on the road. At first, I wasn’t sure whether or not I could drive with my autism but I then knew that with the proper educators who would give me the knowledge and tools would also make me a successful driver.

I find that now that I have been to driver’s education, I have my own style of driving that makes me feel safe but also incredibly cautious of others around me. For instance, when there’s someone near me that’s not paying attention, I stay away from them because they’re the one that’s capable of causing devastating consequences. In today’s generation of driving, it has become more dangerous to drive considering the increase of car crashes caused by technology. People need to be more vigilant while driving because of all the different kinds of people on the road and now factoring in the negligence of others using their phone while driving just makes being on the roads scarier. People should naturally have common sense and not use their cellphone while they drive. According to General Health and Wellness, they state that, “When you send or read a text message, it takes your eyes off the road for five seconds. Going 55 miles per hour while texting is like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed!” This is common in today’s generation and the death rate for driving, especially for teens, has increased. If people would not pay attention to their cellphones and have their eyes on the road while driving, the environment while being on the roads would be much safer and less stressful.

Isn’t it bad enough we already have to worry about all the other factors that can cause accidents, drunk drivers, drivers in a rush, drivers on medications or drugs in general, people who might just look away for a split second and cause a catastrophe and of course, drivers who never took drivers education. They’re so many more factors that make people hazardous while driving and those are just a few examples.

Many people at night are also dangerous and are known to feel tired when they drive on the road. The CDC says, “Get enough sleep! Most adults need at least 7 hours of sleep a day, and teens need at least 8 hours.” The CDC also states, “Before you drive, avoid taking medicines that make you sleepy. Be sure to check the label on any medicines you take or talk to your pharmacist.” Most people don’t sleep well and it can be such a risk to drive considering it’s almost equivalent to drinking and driving.

People should also be a lot more attentive not to drive a vehicle if they have been drinking alcohol. It’s simple, the saying “Do not drink and drive” has been around for years. The NHTSA says, “Every day, about 37 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes — that’s one person every 39 minutes. In 2021, 13,384 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths — a 14% increase from 2020.” People have become more depressed since the Coronavirus Pandemic and it’s having a negative impact on driving. Most people at night are drunk after attending a get together or just ingesting alcohol by themselves. Alcohol can impair your vision and judgment on the roads and your mood can or will be altered in a negative way. After consuming any alcohol wherever you are, if you need to go somewhere, call an Uber to pick you up or call a friend that is completely sober to pick you up.

From my experience, I have witnessed someone in my high school that has gotten into tons of trouble for bad driving. They pay an extra $500 per month because of how many car accidents they’ve been in and how many times they speed. I’ve been on the highway a few times and I see too many people driving way past the limit and up to 90 mph passing on the right which is illegal when you’re supposed to pass on the left. The Birger Firm states, “It congests traffic, especially if other cars are trying to enter or exit the highway on that side.” It only takes one mistake that you or another person makes and it can cause traffic in seconds which is frustrating to a lot of people and then that can lead into road rage. Road Rage is something that has increased over the years and has now become more deadly than ever.

I’m far from being perfect on the roads, sometimes my vision can get crooked when there’s a vehicle that matches what I see in front of me. I am getting better at using all my mirrors for clarity. Mirrors alone can save your life. I’m also trying to achieve a calmer attitude on the road. Being impatient while driving can affect you in a dangerous way because it can cause you to take the focus off driving and get into a serious accident either by yourself or with another driver. Losing your patience creates road rage that can definitely affect you because it causes you not to think clearly which can cause many dangerous things to happen from either getting someone else angry and getting yourself killed or into an accident and killing yourself, Is it worth it? A question everyone needs to think more of while driving?

Other than that, I’m trying to do the best I can and feel as though I’m doing pretty well on the roads. I’m usually very cautious of my surroundings and always try to remember everything I was taught in driver education because going to those classes can make a world of difference. Literally.