Driving Safely is Lit

“Sometimes one mistake is enough to change your life.” That’s a haunting quote that is unfortunately very relevant, especially in the topic of driving. You mostly do not drink before driving, but, one day, you just decided to drink and drive, but a life comes at the cost. That is the case for most car accidents. Most of the drivers in the accidents are not murderers. They don’t start the day thinking, “I’m going to kill someone today.” These are people we know. They make one silly error, which a person has to pay with their life. This is why it is up to you to make sure you drive safely.

Road crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people aged 1-54. Improper speed, following too close, driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure obeying traffic signals are the leading causes of collisions. By following traffic safety laws and being aware, you can minimize accidents. First things first, always wear seat belts. Wearing a seatbelt is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash. Next, drive at designated speed limits at all times. Notice, I said all times. That is because people think there are certain times where it won’t matter even if they go faster, but you can get into a car accident anytime. Accidents happen in a second. So, drivers need to be attentive. Do not text or use mobile phones while driving. Maintain distance between the vehicles depending on road conditions. Also, leave more cushion for yourself to slow down in case of sudden stops. Intersections are responsible for over 50% of all accidents. When approaching intersections, follow the signs and scan to the left and to the right, and then to the left again for vehicles that may run a stop sign or light or for pedestrians and bicyclists. If there is a stop sign, make sure you come to a complete stop and let other vehicles that have the right of way proceed. Avoid aggressive driving and drivers, speeding, tailgating, running red lights and stop signs, and excessive use of the horn. Each of these can induce accidents and injuries. The point of telling all of this is to make good driving decisions yourself and be ready to make up for the mistakes of other drivers. It doesn’t matter whose fault an accident is if you or your family or somebody or some other family is seriously injured or killed. It’s your responsibility to drive defensively to avoid an accident, even if another driver makes a mistake.

When it gets down to driving safely, it’s not whether one knows or not. They probably do know, but they choose not to drive safely. It is up to us as a community to take up this responsibility of driving safely and make sure to put everyone up to these standards today, even when one may not agree with this method. You’d rather be safe than sorry.