Safe Driving

Safe Driving

By Destiny Nicol

    According to Driver Knowledge, there is an average of six million car accidents per year in the United States. At least 3 million people are injured during those accidents and two million sustain permanent injuries. More than ninety of the people who end up in a car accident die every day. Becoming a safer driver can reduce the number of accidents each year and save the lives of many people. Driver education can help teach people how to be a safe driver. 

    There are many simple steps someone can take to reduce the number of deaths related to car accidents. Wearing a seatbelt is a simple but effective way to help reduce deaths in car accidents. According to Driver Knowledge, one in seven people do not wear their seatbelt while driving. Whenever someone neglects to wear a seatbelt, it is thirty times more likely for them to be ejected out of the vehicle during a car crash. When someone does wear a seatbelt, the risk of death in an accident is reduced by forty-five percent and the risk of injury is reduced by fifty percent. Refusing to drive intoxicated or refusing to get in a vehicle with an intoxicated driver is another way to stay safe while driving. Driver Knowledge states that forty percent of accidents related to death are caused by alcohol. Avoiding drinking before or during driving can prevent accidents related to intoxicated drivers. There are many ways that someone can arrive home safely if they have been drinking including calling a cab or an Uber. 

Driver Knowledge also states that thirty percent of accidents that end in death are caused by speeding. Following the speed limit is an important part to driving and will help keep others as well as yourself safe. Thirty-three percent of accidents ending in death are caused by reckless driving. A driver should make sure that they are driving as safely and carefully as possible. According to Driver Knowledge, more than nine people each day are killed from distracted driving and more than 1060 people are injured in accidents that have involved a distracted driver. Driver Knowledge states that one in three people text while driving and are twenty times more likely to get into an accident. Forty percent of teenagers have said they have been in a car with someone who was using their cell phone while driving. Using a cell phone while driving can reduce brain activity that is associated with driving by thirty-seven percent. I have not been in a car accident and have not seen anyone I know drive irresponsibly, but I have seen and heard of others driving irresponsibly. I’ve seen people run stop signs, run red lights, and text while driving. I have also seen people do something as little as, not turn their turn signal on when turning or changing lanes. That may not seem like a huge deal to most people but using your turn signal is important because it indicates what you are about to do. I have heard of people getting into car accidents because the other driver involved was looking at their phone or not stopping when they were supposed to. 

    People should be educated about the importance of safe driving. Drive-Safely.net states that, even though your parents might be good drivers, chances are they don’t have a complete knowledge of driving so taking driving classes is an important part to gain a better understanding of safe driving. Driving schools have many years of experience so they have a better understanding of everything you need to know about driving. According to Drive-Safely.net, the lessons taught at these schools will cover everything you need to know before driving, while parents may leave out some details when teaching you about driving. Taking drivers education will allow you to practice driving with a complete understanding of the rules and will allow you to also understand how to drive safely. Drive-Safely.net mentions that understanding the rules and regulations of the road can help you understand the consequences of certain actions and help you be aware of the damage that can come with an accident. Taking a driving class can also help you become more cautious and more alert while you are driving. According to Drive-Safely.net, some states may require you to take drivers education and they will prevent you from getting a license until you have passed the course. I believe this requirement should be in all states.