Safe and Responsible Driving

Driver education directly corresponds to the number of deaths as a result of driving. If drivers are not properly educated on the rules and risks of driving they can put not only themselves at risk of harm or death, but others as well. Driving is a privilege that mostly all 

people get to have, and with privilege comes responsibility. We are expected to be responsible to educate ourselves on the rules of driving and to see them out. By doing this we can ensure that the number of deaths related to driving will decrease. If every driver were to educate themselves on the rules of driving, we would all abide by the same rules. If we could all follow and educate our sleeves on the same rules there would be no room for confusion, leading to danger. However we cannot trust that everyone will follow the rules, as we know many people break rules while driving. That’s why it’s just as important to inform ourselves on the rules of driving as it is to be aware of the drivers around us. We can’t just trust that every driver will follow the rules, we have to be aware of our surroundings and always be cautious that the driver next to us might not be following the rules. You never know if the person behind you is on their phone or if the oncoming driver will let you turn first at the stop sign. 

I personally have been involved in a few car accidents where I have been lucky enough to not have been significantly injured or affected. However, unfortunately my father has been in multiple car accidents, where he sustained a horrible back injury that has affected him to this day and will affect him the rest of his life. That is a constant reminder that my life and other lives are at stake the moment I turn my car on. My father is someone who does not always follow the rules of driving. He often makes me anxious or scared when driving with him. I honestly use his driving as an example of what not to do when I am driving. He is a very aggressive driver which is not a safe way to drive, always be a defensive driver over an aggressive one. Also anytime I am in a car with someone who is driving unsafely, I think about how uncomfortable I am so that in the future, I can use it as an incentive to make sure I drive safely with others in the car so they don’t have to feel the same feeling of uncomfortableness I’ve felt when driving with an unsafe driver. One step I always take to make sure my driving is the best it can be is that I always turn airplane mode on when I get in my car. This way I will not be tempted by the sound of notifications from my phone and I won’t even be tempted to pick it up and look at the screen. Another step I take is that I leave myself plenty of time to get from one place to another. I don’t want to feel rushed while driving or feel the need to speed or drive recklessly just so I can be on time. By leaving just five minutes early I can be a relaxed and alert drive to keep myself and others safe.