Drive Like Your Life Depends On It – It Does

Drive Like Your Life Depends On It – It Does

By: Madelyn Hake

Driver education is vital to public safety and reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Individual’s cannot be safe if they are not educated on what it means to be a safe driver. Understanding how to drive safely is important for both oneself as a driver and the other drivers on the road. It is also important to be aware of the dangers of distracted driving, and the harm that can be done to others if safe driving habits are not practiced. There are many things in life that we cannot control like natural disasters and illnesses, however, we can prevent deaths from driving. It is necessary that we always drive like lives depend on it because they very much do.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving it is necessary to provide constant learning opportunities to drivers as well as to strictly enforce the rules of the road. Understanding the dangers that come with reckless driving will often prevent drivers from doing so. Individuals are required to take a drivers education course before attaining their drivers licence, but their education often stops there. I feel that providing more educational opportunities in schools, jobs, and government systems will help to effectively minimize dangerous driving. In addition, consistently enforcing the laws in place that keep drivers safe will also help to keep roads safe. I feel that insurance benefits and discounts for safe driving are also effective ways to keep the public safe.

I myself have been a victim of reckless and ignorant driving. An individual was texting and driving, ran a red light, and struck my vehicle at a major intersection. This experience was terrifying and painful for myself as well as for my family. My family and I are very cautious when on the road and always try to practice and encourage safe driving. I have made it a goal of mine to look out for my friends, family, and community members by educating them on the harm that can be done when they do not practice safe driving.

To become a more improved and safer driver, I will continue to eliminate distractions and maintain complete focus on the road and my surroundings. I will do my best to be more aware on the road by keeping my devices out of reach, maintaining my vehicle needs, keeping noise and music to a minimum, and being sure to pay close attention to my speed and relative distance from other vehicles. I will also continue to share my safe driving knowledge with other drivers, and encourage them to eliminate their bad driving habits. All drivers, even safe drivers, believe that they will never be the cause of an accident, but neglect to consider that they may still be the victim of an accident. Spreading information and knowledge about safe driving habits is beneficial for everyone, not just your loved ones. I will attend Saint Martin’s University in the fall of 2021 to pursue my nursing dreams, and I hope that I can encourage change to happen so that I do not have to treat victims of reckless driving that could have been prevented.