Take Proper Precautions… Lives Depend on it!

Driving is one of the most anticipated milestones in a teenager’s life; the excitement of traveling to destinations independently is usually the driving force. Many who understand the responsibility of being behind a moving vehicle’s wheel decide to enroll their new driver into a driver’s education course. Driving education courses are imperative to individuals learning to drive because it prepares them not only to operate the vehicle safely but also to teach the student the importance of driving defensively. Frequently, people take for granted the power a person has when driving; however, driver’s education courses teach such techniques as anticipating possible dangerous situations, avoiding collisions, being conscious of the mistakes of others, and considering the driving conditions when preparing for travel.

Every responsible driver must take adequate precautions to protect not only themselves but to protect those driving around them. A responsible driver can take some of the following precautions to ensure safe travel: proper rest before driving, assigning a designated driver when drinking alcohol, taking a defensive driving course, and maintaining maintenance on the vehicle to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive. These are just a few precautions an individual can complete to ensure everyone’s safety on the road. Taking proper precautions can not only save your life, but it can save the lives of others. One of the biggest misconceptions about driving a vehicle is that as long as the driver is driving safe, then the risk of an accident is minimal. The driver being the only responsible party is a misconception because, in most instances, the driver is not only driving for themselves, but those who are driving around them too. For instance, the driver is driving for the one who is eating and driving, talking on their phone, or even putting on their make-up while drinking coffee.

Fortunately, I have only been in one car accident when I was younger; the experience was very frightening because I did not understand what was going on, and everything happened so quickly. Now that I am older, I understand that an accident can happen before you even realize it is a possibility; therefore, you have to be vigilant of everything happening around you and you must take the proper precautions. I recently passed my driver’s test and received my driver’s license, which I understand is a major responsibility. Before receiving my driver’s license, I completed my school’s driver’s education course, I attend 12 hours of driving school, and I will be completing a defensive driving course. As a responsible driver, I plan to limit the number of distractions while driving (i.e., loud music, limit phone conversations, etc.), follow traffic laws, and continue taking a defensive driving course as often as recommended.