In the Driver’s Seat

In the Driver’s Seat

Driving in America is becoming more and more dangerous everyday. In fact, more people die every year in America than the combined amount of deaths in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. This is just simply ludicrous and could be avoided by just doing the smallest things.

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving? For starters, by taking driver’s education, you have less of a chance in being involved in car crashes, receiving a traffic violation, or any other type of ticket. Most fatality rates for teens happen at the ages of 16-18 years old, so this information is especially meaningful. Also, by taking drivers education, teens are keeping other drivers’ lives safe as well. Not very many people think about other people’s lives when driving behind the wheel, but, if someone was the cause of a wreck, and the other person lost their life because they were not following the laws, they would probably have a feeling of regret for the rest of their life, and who wants to go through that? Nobody.

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving? Drunk driving is one of the main causes leading to car accidents. Obviously, it is not a good idea to drive drunk. This being because of impairing judgement and slow reaction time. If someone were to go out for a couple of drinks, they need to make sure they have a designated driver, call and Uber, or simply drink at home. Distracted driving is also a cause of many car crashes and deaths. Many people have been in car crashes from talking or texting on the phone or eating while driving. In many states it is illegal to even be on the phone while driving, but in all states, it’s a bad idea.

Have you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly? I myself have never been in a car accident, but my mom and her best friend got into one when they left to go to the flea market early in the morning. They were driving on the highway and were stopped by a stop light. When the light turned green they proceeded to the route but then they were hit by a car coming from the side. This caused the car to flip many times. Luckily, my mom and her friend were okay but it was later found out that the people who hit my mom and her friend was one of my cousins and her friend. They had been under the influence of marijuana and had been on it all night and were driving back home. This goes to show that the drivers choices can affect other people and cause a catastrophe.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well was help others become safer on the road? Some steps that I could take to be a better and safer driver are really paying attention to my driver education course and remembering everything that is being taught to me, obey traffic laws and signs, and think about other people’s lives as well as mine. Some things I could do to help other people be safe on the road are to politely tell them what they did wrong if they do something wrong and always remind them of traffic laws and signs as well as encouraging them to really focus on their driver’s education.

If we Americans can follow the simple rules of driving and pay attention and take the drivers education course, I firmly believe that the number of deaths in America from driving irresponsibly, will fall significantly.