It’s Better To Be Safe Than Sorry

One of the happiest days of a teenager’s life is turning sixteen. This opens a door of opportunities for them, including receiving their driver’s license. As they prepare for the most crucial test of their adolescence, there are a few ways to get where they need to be. One of the most recommended methods is drivers education. It prepares you for what is on the test, how you can safely maneuver your vehicle, and what to look out for in real-life scenarios. Recent data shows that new drivers who did not take drivers education have a 25% chance of getting into an accident with critical injuries than drivers who did. The amount of deaths caused by vehicle collisions outnumbers U.S. Military deaths. This can be prevented if new drivers take the time to attend drivers education courses that will enhance their driving skills and inform them of the dangers of not practicing safe driving techniques.

With the privilege of being able to operate a motor vehicle, there comes great responsibility. You are to ensure the safety of yourself, others who enter your car, and people on and off the road. Just this year there is an estimated amount of 18,720 people who have perished due to vehicle crashes and this continues to rise by the minute. Many factors contribute to these tragic events such as driving under the influence, not wearing a seatbelt, using a digital device while driving, having distractions, an unsafe motor vehicle, and recklessly driving. Some solutions we can implement are giving our full attention to what is in front of us, not operating a vehicle if we are not physically or emotionally stable, and practicing defensive driving to ensure that we are taking precautions. These steps can lower the death toll astronomically and make the roads a safer place.

Driving gives a person freedom but when not used cautiously can take away anothers. September 22, 2019 a day that brought tremendous grief into our home. We recieved a phone call regarding the passing of my older siblings father. The trembling of my mothers hands while rapidly contacting my brother and sister replay in my head as if it were yesterday. A random day of riding his motorcycle turned into be his last due to a car pulling out infront of him causing him to have a loss of control. Watching my family hear about the unfortunate news was a mix of emotions. Denial overcame my brothers entire being as he didn’t want to believe that what our mom had told him was true. It was a shattering moment, in which I knew my family would never be the same as they were an hour before. An average day was quickly turned into a tragedy due to one cars mistake. Making sure that all sides of the road are clear are basic road rules, that are heavily neglected by drivers. Taking off in a rush can effect not only the driver but others around them. My families experience with vehicle tregedies is only one of many throughout the United States. Implementing steps for safe driving will lessen the amount of families recieving calls about their loved ones passing and lower the amount of accidents occuring every 2-10 seconds.

I can make a difference in today’s hectic road conditions is by ingraining the importance of road safety in myself and others around me. Being on the road is a risk we take every day and one wrong move can alter our entire lives. Making sure that both ends of the road are clear can save a life and reduce the death toll significantly. As a community, we must remind each other of the importance of following mandatory road laws, such as allowing pedestrians to pass, letting cars with the right of way proceed, and using turn signals so drivers know what the vehicle in front of them plans to do. Knowing when you or another person is incapable of being behind the wheel is vital as it will prevent reckless driving and intoxicated incidents. Stressing the importance of practicing defensive driving will help drivers understand that they can’t trust that the car next to them will follow road rules. Waiting an extra minute to proceed on the road is favored over hastily making a decision and getting hit. Those on the road should be reminded that it is better to be safe than sorry and should hold their lives as a priority rather than where they need to be.