People’s Responsibility On The Road

Micaiah McGivan

11/26/2020

People’s Responsibility On the Road

Driver Education is a crucial factor in helping people drive safely and responsibly, especially for those aiming to obtain their driver’s license for the first time. For teens and adults with a learner’s permit, most states require them to take a driver’s education course before they can apply for their license. This is done for a number of reasons, specifically for knowledge and the experience. Driver’s ed classes offer the best insight on the state’s driving laws and regulations, which vary drastically between states. For example, fine in Utah for texting and driving if you’re a first-time offender is $750 but up to $100 in Rhode Island. (Siegfried and Jenson) Attending a class would enlighten people to the financial and physical cost of distracted driving and make people think twice before reading a text while on the road.

When people are aware of the dangers of driving, they can take steps to ensure their safety on the road. Before they back out of the driveway, it’s important to tell friends, family members, and colleagues that they’ll be driving and unable to answer calls or texts. If the call is really important, one should pull off on the side of the road and answer their phone. Additionally, if a person is inebriated, they should call for someone to take them home, whether it’s someone they know or a company like Lyft or Uber. Observing the speed limit is another principal factor in reducing driving deaths. The World Health Organization stated “an increase in average speed is directly related both to the likelihood of a crash occurring and to the severity of the consequences. For example, every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk.” (WHO) Whether a mother goes 5 miles above the speed limit to pick their child up from school or a group of teens go 10 miles above the speed limit to get to class on time, respecting speed limits can save lots of people from an early death.

My parents raised me with the knowledge and knowhow to avoid numerous crashes. However, even the most careful drivers are vulnerable to others on the road, like a family member whose car was totaled after they were rear-ended by a drowsy driver. Since they were sandwiched between two cars on a metered ramp, it was impossible to avoid a collision. This reminded me of the importance of everyone on the road taking measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring.

To ensure my safety on the road, I can and take several safety precautions, like refraining from responding to texts, diverting my attention to the road, and making sure the car is in optimal condition. When I’m in the car with someone, I respond to their texts so they maintain focus. If society followed the rules of the road and took steps to eliminate their distractions, the number of crashes would drastically decrease, ensuring a safer driving experience for everyone.

Works Cited:

Siegfried and Jensen. “The Toughest Distracted Driving Laws”, March 3, 2020. https://www.siegfriedandjensen.com/studies/distracted-driving-laws-by-state/ Accessed November 25, 2020.

World Health Organization. “Road traffic injuries.”, February 7, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/road-traffic-injuries. Accessed November 25, 2020.