To the Person in the Driver’s Seat

To
the Person in the Driver’s Seat

When
I was in third grade, my dad and I got into a terrible accident on my
way to school. A car had swerved into our lane and ran straight into
the side of our car, causing our vehicle to fly into an electricity
distribution box. Fortunately, none of us got injured other than a
few scratches here and there. Yet, the incident remains traumatizing
for me. For months, I was terrified to ride both cars and buses. I
was fearful at the thought of driving when I got older. Being a
responsible driver not only reduces deaths but the number of people
who become permanently scarred by experiences like mine.

There
are many dangers that come from being behind the wheel. Without
proper drivers ed, it is easy to become inattentive to these
hazards. If more drivers were educated, distracted driving, which is
the leading cause of road accidents, would decrease due to further
recognition of various risks such as texting while driving. Other
causes of accidents, such as speeding, reckless driving, and driving
under the influence could be put a stop to if drivers knew more about
how their actions could jeopardize the lives of other people and
their own.

There
are a few steps everybody can take into account when it comes to
driving safer. For starters, drivers should never forget to buckle
their seatbelt and should also make sure that all passengers are, as
well. According to the
Motor
Vehicle Safety Division of the CDC, a seatbelt is enough to decrease
the risk of death and injury by just about 50%. Next, drivers should
remember to never get behind the wheel if they have been drinking
and/or doing drugs, nor should their friends let them. Sometimes,
even a doctor-prescribed medication or just one single drink is able
to impair one’s ability to drive. Furthermore, multitasking should
not be a priority when you are driving. That one text or phone call
is not worth your life or that of others. Last but certainly not
least, you will always reach your destination no matter, so why not
just adhere to secure driving speed. Not only should the speed limit
be given consideration to, but also the conditions of the road.

I’ve
made it a mission to be as educated as I can about the rules of the
road and driver safety and encourage those around me to be as well.
By educating those around me, I can get across the message that it is
all of our responsibilities to be safe on the road, as it can help to
not only save our own lives but also those of others.