Safe Driving Can Save Lives

Anyone that is driving on the streets anywhere you go has had to take a driving course or test of some sort to receive their driver’s license. The courses must be taken when getting a license under eighteen and include in-person classes once a week and online readings depending on their state. In Ohio, there are twenty-four hours worth of important information to be learned during these courses. Every driver that received their license under the age of eighteen was required to complete eight hours of in-car instruction with a driving instructor before they were able to take the test to obtain their driver’s license and drive on the roads independently.

Because individuals over eighteen are not required to complete the previously mentioned education and training and are only required to take a test to obtain their license, they are not learning the important information taught in the Driver’s Education courses. These adults are not as educated as the people who take these courses regarding laws and safety of the roads, which results in being a less safe driver. By only being required to pass the written and driving tests, these drivers only know the very basics of driving and not the extra pointers and details from the courses, which makes these drivers have more of a chance of putting other drivers on the road at risk.

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths while driving such as not texting and driving, not running red lights, not running stop signs, not speeding, not drinking and driving, and knowing the many other laws of the road. These are easy and doable steps to follow to be a safer driver. Following the law may result in more driving time, but it can also save lives. The fact that driving, an everyday activity, is more dangerous and deadly than combat says a lot about the importance of safe driving and the serious consequences that occur from unsafe driving.

I personally have never been in a serious car accident, but one of my closest friends has. She was planning to drive down the street from our high school to pick up dinner. She was turning left and thought the oncoming car was farther away and driving slower than it was, so she turned. The other car ran into the side of hers. In this situation, she was not a distracted driver, although as a new driver, she learned an important lesson about misjudging the speed and distance of the other car. Fortunately, no one was injured in this scenario. I could tell from the way she was telling the story that it was very traumatic, and I was able to learn an important lesson from this as well. It further reinforced that it does not matter how far you are traveling, even a few minutes in a familiar area can be dangerous.

I have seen others drive irresponsibly as well. I have seen my friends and family members speeding multiple times and checking their phones while driving. Although I have never witnessed anyone look at their phones for a prolonged period of time while driving, I have witnessed a short glance at their device which is just as dangerous. The usage of phones while driving I have seen involve checking social media and text messages and changing music. Sometimes it is while at a red light, and people may believe it is okay because they are not actively driving. However, it is just as important, so you do not miss the change to a green light and interrupt the flow of traffic, get rear ended, lose awareness of your surroundings, etc.

To be a better and safer driver myself, I can follow the law by leaving my phone out of reach so that it never becomes a distraction of any kind. I can go the speed limit and always come to a complete three second stop. I can use what I have learned in my Driver’s Education courses to do what is correct and lawful when on the road. I can cut out any distractions that may inhibit my full attention on the road. All these steps are easy to follow; it is a matter of implementing them regularly to continue as a safe driver.

When driving, people must have their eyes on the road at all times and follow the law in order to safely arrive at the desired destination. Even if your trip takes a few extra minutes because you are coming to complete stops and driving at the speed limit, it is better safe than sorry. If you get pulled over for not being a safe driver or get in a car accident, you will not arrive at your destination on time, if at all. It is extremely important to be a safe driver when behind the wheel for your own safety as well as those around you. Doing this can save lives.