There is more to just driving.

Whenever my parents go out and drive to whatever destination they’re going to, I always pray that they would come home safely because I am aware that there would be potential accidents to which God forbid. I am aware that there would be reckless drivers out there that want to show off the speed they have in their latest upgraded cars, and that just increases the likelihood of an accident or trouble going to happen. Driving is looked at as a routine matter, just a simple task that one would do everyday to get from point A to point B. However, there is this reality that driving is just far more than just driving a vehicle, as there is this profound responsibility for the safety of the driver and others.

Distractions on the road while driving becomes a significant concern in our present day world that is fast paced. Using our phones is perhaps a prevalent distraction, as drivers would use it to text, call, or even browse on it. There are issues with such distractions with your phone, as they just completely take your attention away from the primary objective of driving, which leads to your judgment being impaired, reaction times are slower, and an increased possibility of leading to an accident.

The driver’s attention being divided between the road and their phone would result in something very catastrophic. A momentary glance at your phone can consequently result in your visual cues being missing, such as not paying attention to a pedestrian crossing, the traffic lights, and even the chance of collisions is at stake. I remember one time, when my Aunt or Tita got into an accident in a neighborhood, all because she couldn’t take her eye off of her phone. She was crying as she didn’t mean to get into such a predicament, and had to resolve the situation with the driver who got into an accident with her. Let’s say that, to this day, that she never called anyone because she was just driving. Recognizing that each driver is responsible for not just their own life, but also for the lives of someone else on the road is essential for creating a culture of safe driving.

There is this role of driver education that is considered to be paramount that it allows us to enhance the safety amongst all people. Driver education programs would give the opportunity to provide comprehensive concepts and technical skills required to operate a vehicle but additionally further instill a deeper grasp of understanding of the responsibilities associated with driving. The programs that are emphasized are particularly for safe driving practices, acknowledging the dangers of distractions behind the wheel towards the driver and everyone else, and lastly just acknowledging the importance of obeying to traffic laws. As I saw that whenever someone in the wrong hands has a license, they would take advantage of the opportunity they have and use it for racing on public roads, such as highways.

Educational initiatives would have to include the background of defensive driving techniques and just acknowledging the implications of reckless behavior. Witnessing reckless driving from myself who experienced it while driving on the highway of i-95, just makes me concerned about my own safety being in jeopardy, as there would be car guys passing through cars with no care whatsoever. With equipping drivers with knowledge and skills, driver education would lead to the reduction of the number of accidents and fatalities on the roads. With programs that incorporate simulation exercises and real world scenarios, these factors would help drivers experience the potential consequences of driving unsafely in an environment that is controlled, which would reinforce the importance of using caution.

Upon reflection of experiences with driving, it is not me who has experienced these matters, but everyone else such as my friends and family members. As I remember one time, where I was out with my elder brother to hang out before he left for his post as Naval Sailor. He would drive recklessly by passing through cars like a white blood cell going through the blood vessels, with the music being played very loud on the radio. These factors just completely dissipate the attention on the road for my brother, as I sensed this danger for us. I would understand the full gravity of situations where there would be reports where there would be accidents on the road, and reflecting back, this could’ve been me and my brother, and I would thank God that both of us managed to get back home safely.

Becoming a better driver on the road, we must prioritize attentiveness and removing distractions no matter what. As we should refrain from using our phones or anything else that takes away our attention from the wheel in order to remove any potential hazards whatsoever. Sharing knowledge about safe driving practices and even promoting road safety with anyone else would contribute a broader impact on society.

With driving, it is more than just an act of trying to get to your desired destination such as your home, a store, the mall, or whatever, it is a responsibility for human lives.With distractions being emphasized of leading to consequences, there is this emphasis where we all have to take responsibility to reduce the risks of accidents. By employing the solutions of the awareness of a safer driving environment for our society, we can all contribute to enhancing road safety to whatever journey we go through safely as possible.