The Joys And Dangers of Driving

As a teenager, my biggest accomplishment was passing the driver’s test. It was a big milestone in my life that took several months of practice to achieve. While it was a great accomplishment, my parents were the ones who put the time, money, and effort into making sure I not only passed my driver’s test, but that I was a safe and confident driver for years to come. They put me in several driver’s education courses and bought me a driving teacher that taught me how to be a safe and skilled driver. I learned how to stop hydroplaning, what to do if someone stopped quickly in front of me, and how to keep a safe distance between me and the car in front. Driving is a big part of our world and my parents made sure that I was informed on how to be a safe and prepared driver.

One main thing that I learned from my driver’s education courses was that traffic deaths are highly preventable. Driving with distractions such as your phone, or driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol are extremely dangerous to yourself and others. Millions of people have died due to reckless behavior of others that could have been prevented. By taking a driver’s education course, more people can be informed about the dangers that drinking, drug use, and phone use can exhibit on the road.

Driver education is important in reducing the number of driving-related deaths because it better prepares us for emergency situations. It also informs us of how we can be better prepared when emergency situations arise. During bad weather, driver’s often hydroplane due to slick roads and high speeds. This puts themselves and others in danger. However if drivers were taught how to get out of a hydroplane, this could reduce traffic accidents and overall reduce traffic deaths.

There are simple steps that can be used to reduce the number of traffic deaths. For example, more people can be trained and informed of how to drive properly and safely. Most deaths are preventable yet poor driving, use of technology, other distractions, and poor responsive time lead to a high number of deaths. If driver’s were required to take a driver’s education course every ten years, they could refresh their knowledge of safety on the roads and be reminded of the dangers that inhibit your ability to drive safely.

Another step that could be taken to reduce the number of traffic deaths is managing the use of alcohol, drugs, and screen time among drivers. Phones are a big distraction that often cause accidents and deaths among drivers. However if there was a way to limit phone use while driving, this could significantly lower traffic accidents. Alcohol is the leading cause of traffic deaths in America. To help lower this statistic, we should inform others about the dangers that it leads to. We could share stories about how family members are ripped away from parents, grandparents, and siblings due to the reckless behavior of a drunk driver.

Fortunately I have never been in the car of a drunk driver, but I have been in the car of a friend who drives irresponsibly. They use their phone while driving, and go well above the designated speed limit. They are reckless with their driving, often tailgating other cars if they are not going fast enough. She often uses the turn lane as another lane to get around slow drivers and doesn’t use her blinker when she is supposed to. She has never suffered the consequences due to her reckless driving, and I hope she never does, but I pray that one day that she learns how dangerous her driving is to herself and others around her.

To become a better and safer driver, I can use my blinker when necessary. I can also keep a safe distance from the car in front of me. I can take a drivers education course and inform myself on how to keep safe on the roads, how to drive in bad weather, how to react in a fast-paced, emergency situation, and the dangers of speeding and using alcohol and drugs while driving. As to helping others, I can spread the word of driving education by encouraging my friends and family to take the courses. If I feel that one of my family members or friends is driving irresponsible, I can kindly tell them to stop speeding, stop using their phone, or even have them let a sober, safe, driver take over.