Think and Drive

In the past four years, the number of deaths caused by car accidents has risen by 16%. No one ever steps into their car expecting to be in an accident, but they can happen unexpectedly. Every day, we drive our car to get where we need to be, some may believe driving is all common sense or even just routine, but it is so much more. Your “routine” can be one of the top ten causes of death globally. This is why all individuals should be educated on the safety of driving and traffic. Many precautions can be taken to prevent annual car accidents and overall deaths, in this essay I will review some of those precautions and hope to open some minds.

Here in Missouri Drivers Ed is not mandatory, but it should be. Just like in school, if you’re not willing to learn a topic, you will not excel during the exam, you may pass, but just barely. I am expressing this because in school, you have an opportunity to do a retake exam, in life, there are no retakes you only have one life and you need to cherish it. Individuals with inclusive driving knowledge will drive more responsibly simply because they have a better understanding of street sign meanings, vehicle controls, and overall safety precautions that all drivers should know. Some people may not have guardians to educate them, and a class or program can teach an individual how to drive starting from the very basics, instead of them getting into a vehicle clueless.

There are many steps people can take to prevent car accidents annually. First off, a topic I feel is the most aggravating, putting your phone down. According to The National Safety Council, 1.6 million car accidents are caused by phone usage. Cars carry families, loved ones, and friends, the text message you just received will still be there in twenty minutes. Do not tear apart a family by answering a text because, in simple terms, you cannot drive safely while texting. Secondly, slow down, reckless driving is not impressive. A speed limit is posted for a reason, excelling a speed will put you and everyone in your car in immediate danger, if you are to crash, your car will not protect you, it will kill you. If you are ever in a vehicle with a reckless driver, make an excuse to get out as soon as possible, and speak up, do not stay quiet. I want you to close your eyes for a second and imagine your life without your favorite person in it. It is impossible, do not be the reason that someone else has to endure losing their person. Lastly, just be observant, turn your radio down, and keep your eyes on the road. Many people become distracted very easily, but it is so important that the second you get into that vehicle all your focus is forward.

I have not been involved in a car accident very thankfully, but as I get into my car every day I genuinely worry for my safety. Since I turned sixteen I never feared my driving, but I feared everyone else behind the wheel on the street. I have been in conversations with acquaintances at school talking about how slow people drive, how much road rage it causes them, and how they don’t understand why people can’t just speed up. All I can ever picture in these conversations is that individual in an accident caused by speeding or road rage. Everyone always says, “Slow down you don’t want a huge ticket.” But, I think the sentence should be “Slow down, you don’t want to die.” It is as blunt as that, people get in cars every single day to get from place to place, and you do not think it will happen to you until it does. People on the road are putting their lives in your hands, protect them. If you are late to work, you are late, do not speed up. If you are late to school, you are late, do not speed up. You can choose to be ten minutes late, or speed up and forever be late.

I will always be taking steps to be a safe driver, I will put my phone out of sight or in my glove box, wear my seat belt, and be observant. I encourage others to do the same, your life is precious along with the lives of the people in the vehicle next to you. I can not physically force an individual to drive safely, but I can inform them. I will remind family and friends to drive safely, wear their seat belts, and put their phones away. Anytime someone gets into my car, as a driver we will not leave until their seat belt is on. I hope that this essay can make an individual stop and think, that it is not just about you, but it is about everyone as a whole, it is time for drivers to become more educated, and stop being selfish.