Life Behind the Wheel

Life Behind the Wheel

Life behind the wheel is whatever you make of it, as anything can happen regardless of experienced or confident you may be. All could be going well when a second or two is all it may take to permanently change your life. Accidents are caused by a plethora of things; drugs, alcoholic substances, nausea, backseat distractions, drowsiness…the list goes on. Alertness is the only way to prevent an accident. As drivers move on from their beginner stages that are centered around alertness and safety, they might begin to take driving for granted and may let the guard down as they get comfortable with driving. It is impeccable that all drivers, young and old, periodically refresh themselves with rules of the road and general tips for driving in order to protect our fragile lives.

Reducing the number of deaths per year related to auto accidents can be as simple as having a checklist of things to think about before you drive. A good checklist includes checking your brakes, lights, gas, and of course, seatbelt. While on the road you should adhere to and acknowledge road signs, as they may warn you or give you valuable information such as speed limit, clearance, upcoming exits, steep hills, etc. The next thing you can do to reduce your chance of having an accident is simply checking the entire road or intersection for dangers, even when you have the right of way. Although many rules and regulations seek to create order on the road there will always be drivers that will behave erratically and pose a serious threat, even in the midst of safety.

Have I ever witnessed irresponsible driving? Yes. An older brother of mine would pick me up from school when I was a Junior in High School just a year ago. While he drove, his attention was mostly on his phone as he would struggle to find a song on his playlist and sifted through ads. This is a clear red flag as your attention should be on the road and the road alone. One day in particular, I had to tell him to look forward before he rammed into the decelerating vehicle ahead of us. Me telling him was the only reason that we could walk away without injuries or financial stress because of an accident.

As a young driver I am fortunately aware of the fact that over time people can let their guard down when it comes to road safety. I make it a point to remind myself to be alert while driving and to be analyzing everything that comes my way. This may seem like a bit much, but it is quite necessary when you realize how quickly and effortlessly a life can end because of carelessness on the road. So it is eternally important to ALWAYS be at full attention on the road, even when you feel safe, because you are responsible for your life, your passenger’s lives, other drivers and pedestrians. Life behind the wheel can be whatever you make it, so make it safe for yourself and for others!