Safer You, Safer Me, Safer Us

Driving. Is it easy? Is it hard? It is neither! But it is very important to know the rules of the road so that you can keep yourself and others out of harm’s way. Most people, especially teens, take their drivers test or permit test and pass but do not really learn anything from it or try to study the material. This can put other people and yourself, at risk. Learning and Studying the material about the roads and even your own vehicle, can you benefit you and others in the long run. Knowing how to work instruments in your vehicle and knowing exactly where they are located, can come in handy. However, it does not just take learning and studying the road and your vehicle to decrease the number of deaths and accidents. It all starts with who is behind the wheel and the company you have in your car as well. The company you keep in your car, could always distract you from paying attention to the road. If this is the case, limit the amount of people in your vehicle, to avoid distractions. Drinking under the Influence is also a big NO NO! Driving intoxicated can lead to you hurting yourself or an innocent person in another vehicle. If you find yourself intoxicated, make sure you are not behind a wheel. If you must call an Uber, a friend, or family member to pick you up, do just that. If you get caught driving under the influence, you can get arrested and charged with a DUI. Most of my friend’s drink and/or smoke but I do not. I always make sure my friends are not getting behind the wheel intoxicated because it is not safe, and I do not want them hurting themselves or other people. One of my family members was charged with a DUI about two years ago, and luckily, she did not hurt anyone. But the consequences are real, and they could not drive for 6 months and paid out between 3,000- 4,000 dollars. Seatbelts are also extremely important because, they decrease serious injuries and deaths. In 2017, there were about 37,000 people killed in motor vehicle accidents and 47% were not wearing seatbelts. Air bags and seatbelts provide the best protection. That way, if you get into an accident, the seatbelt can keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle. However, if you choose not to wear it, you could be seriously injured or even killed. Always remember to buckle up and tell others to do the same. I am not a perfect driver myself but, I am very cautious and try to avoid fast driving, speeding through yellow lights, and not forgetting to turn on my turn signal. Lastly, wearing your seatbelt should be the first thing you do when you get into a vehicle These habits have got better but, everything takes time, and nothing happens right away. Improving my driver skills is my New Year Resolution. Let it be yours too!