Practicing Good Habits Behind The Wheel

Mary E. Mullins

November 23, 2020

Practicing Good Habits Behind The Wheel

In my time as a driver I have realized the importance of safe and responsible driving. Staying focused on the road is the most critical way to ensure that you are being safe on the road. Driving is a big responsibility and paying attention can be the difference between life and death behind the wheel.

Adequate driver education is very important in reducing the number of deaths per year on the road. It is an instructor’s duty to emphasize the responsibility of driving and ensure that students are taught the proper skills and habits to be cautious drivers. It is also the responsibility of the student to pay attention in class, do their homework on the rules of the road, and practice safe driving every time they get behind the wheel. Many deaths per year are caused by poor decisions such as drinking and driving, texting behind the wheel, and not wearing a seatbelt. With proper education about the risks associated with driving, students are better equipped to keep themselves, and others, safe.

Some steps that could be implemented to ensure that young drivers are ready for the road are to allow student drivers to have enough practice time before being issued their license and to have students practice driving through simulations. Driving laws vary from state to state, but some states require a certain amount of practice hours or a designated number of months after receiving their permit before they may apply for their license. Other states, such as Arkansas, have no requirement for a minimum amount of supervised driving hours before students may apply for their licenses. Only the completion of a written driving test is necessary. Although convenient for parents and students, this does not ensure that student drivers have had adequate time on the road to practice and learn. A national minimum of supervised driving hours may result in a decrease of automobile fatalities. Another step in the completion of a driver’s education course could be to use driving simulation games in order to experience the dangers of poor driving habits. Technological advancements such as this allows educators to demonstrate the hazards of the road safely and effectively. Driving simulations like this can be used to provide students with first-hand, realistic situations which demonstrate the dangers of driving distracted or under the influence.

This topic hits close to home for my family and I. My mom’s cousin was tragically lost in his early twenties to a motorcycle accident while under the influence of alcohol. After a night of drinking, he made the poor decision of getting on the back of a motorcycle with his friend, who had also been drinking. On the way home, they lost control and collided with a tree, ending both of their young lives. Situations like this can be prevented with appropriate driver safety education and encouragement by parents or guardians to practice good driving. If teens and young adults understand the risks of driving intoxicated or distracted, they may think twice before messaging a friend while driving or getting into a car, or on a bike, with someone who has been drinking.

One way I have improved my driving is by installing a driving app on my smartphone. This app tracks my trips and informs me if I’ve been driving distracted or not. This simple step has made me think twice before I pick up my phone to search for a song or message a friend while behind the wheel. Another step I take to prevent distracted driving is putting my phone on silent so that I won’t be tempted to check the screen when I have the familiar “ding” or “Zzz Zzz”. Simple steps like this can prevent car accidents and therefore reduce the risk of injury or death as a result of driving. Following safe driving habits such as having a designated driver or “DD” on nights out can also help protect your friends and yourself. Having a designated driver ensures that on a night out, there is someone responsible and reliable who will not drink any alcoholic beverages to ensure that everyone gets home safely.

Preventative steps such as these can significantly reduce the number of car accidents and premature deaths, especially during the holidays, when there’s many distracted drivers on the road. Nothing is more important than your safety and the safety of those around you. The texts, Tweets, or Snap Chats can wait for your safe arrival. Think about your loved one’s before getting into the driver’s seat and remember that they want you home safe. Be considerate to others on the road and keep in mind that each of them also have someone waiting for them at home. Together we can reduce accidents and make our roads a safer place.