Driving with Common Sense

In my hometown, there is an unfortunate teen death from driving just about every year, usually induced by the use of an illegal substance and rarely is the result of a freak accident. Common sense plays a pivotal role in remaining safe on the road; noticing distracted drivers and keeping away, looking beyond the first car in front so future events can be expected, and staying defensive on the road are just a few things people can do to reduce their chances of suffering a car accident. Most of the time, I firmly believe a focus on common sense can save countless lives; of course, there are tragic accidents that nobody can control, but rather, common sense means not actively engaging in behavior that takes attention away from the road.

A trait that several people lack is common sense; unfortunately, too many people die on the road because of a lack thereof. A wise man once told me that common sense will take you far in life and safety. As Dwight Schrute from the hit TV show The Office would say, sometimes I wonder if an idiot would do something, and if they would, I don’t do that thing. A little comical way to put it, but common sense is not a complicated topic, and everyone has a relative or friend with the innate ability to make careless decisions. Things like texting while driving, driving without a seatbelt, and tailgating fellow commuters are surefire ways not to express strong common sense skills. Drivers must know practically everything on the road from the front, sides, and behind the vehicle so no surprises can pop up. Constant paranoia for staying vigilant on the road is not the solution; instead, thinking through the trip and not placing your trust in other drivers on the road will reduce the risk of tragedy. Remaining knowledgeable about traffic laws and updates can help diffuse any confusion on the road, heightening the essential common sense skills with practical knowledge. It is not required to become a traffic lawyer to optimize safety, but a basic understanding and strong common sense skills are a recipe for reduced incidents on the road. There is a fine line between caution and being too cautious; drivers who break suddenly or ride their brakes are not safe in doing so; instead, they threaten the lives of everyone on the road with their drastic changes in speed.

Vigilance on the road means looking at multiple cars ahead and noticing the types of erratic drivers on their phones or otherwise distracted, which helps me know what areas on the road to avoid and which to traverse safely. These seemingly minor things to notice in other drivers could also be used to tip off local highway patrol so the driver in question may be taken off the road to avoid any potential grave results from distracted driving. A community relationship with their local patrol is essential in keeping unsafe drivers off the road and sends a message to those who may need to rethink their driving behaviors. It only takes a split second of lapse on the road for there to be an accident; the unfortunate truth is substance abuse often plays a role in too many deaths on the road every year. In my own life, the sad death of a young girl stirred controversy over the driver, who was, in fact, intoxicated, and the passenger playing a joke by covering his eyes. Any form of distraction while driving only increases one’s chances of being involved in becoming another statistic too many families have to live without.

I am fortunate to have parents who reinforced that cars are not toys and that the driver is responsible for keeping occupants safe, such as requiring seatbelts and understanding normal volume levels in music and essential noise. Speaking up as a passenger is also important; there is no need for one’s life to be jeopardized if basic safety measures are not followed. Educating young children and adults on the importance of keeping safe while in a car or vehicle is essential because they are not to be played with. Incorporating these minor reinforcements will ensure children can grow up in a safe environment that they can foster for their kids and so on. Remaining steadfast in not participating in distracted driving, at least to the extent that one is not the agitator, will help reduce the risk of suffering from an incident on the road.