Responsibility on the Road

Driving is something that everyone wants to do. Being able to drive makes you more independent. You no longer need to rely on public transportation or rides from family members or friends. However, the responsibility of driving is a very serious one that should not be taken lightly. While it makes you more independent, driving is one of the most dangerous things you can do.

Driving kills too many people each year. In 2019 alone according to the National Safety Council, 38,800 people lost their lives due to car crashes while 4.4 million were seriously injured in vehicle related accidents. The best way to help stop this unnecessary loss of life is through proper driver education. Driver education provides people with the proper knowledge, skills, and attitudes that they need and that are necessary for both vehicle and pedestrian safety. People who are going behind the wheel should know what they can and cannot do. Someone should not be able to drive without knowing the proper way to signal their turns or the proper way to switch lanes. New drivers in particular require training to recognize risk and potential consequences to make quick reduced-risk decisions. The responsibility of a pedestrian is another topic of driver education, which is commonly overlooked. Pedestrians also have responsibilities when it comes to road safety. Waiting for the appropriate traffic signal before crossing the street, paying attention while crossing the street, and walking in crosswalks are some of the responsibilities driver education teaches pedestrians that some people elect to not follow. With proper driver education, drivers will follow the rules of the road better and, as a result, less people will be put in danger.

I have had multiple experiences of being in a car with an irresponsible driver. Many times when I am in the car with family members, I pick up on the fact that they do not follow some of the most important rules such as using a blinker or coming to a full stop at a stop sign. Each individual can make a difference on the road. Something I can do to be a safer driver and make the roads safer is follow the proper driving rules and not have my actions forced by peer pressure. One of the biggest reasons roads are so dangerous is because of impatient and angry drivers. Anyone who has been on the road has seen some form of road rage or impatience. People love to honk their horns and to speed around other cars without signaling, which in turn causes others to feel uncomfortable and jittery. These two things combined can cause accidents, and something as simple as following the rules properly can stop these needless dangers.

Driving will always be a dangerous process for both drivers and pedestrians. Each year too many are affected by the actions of reckless drivers and careless pedestrians. However, if each person entrusted with a driver’s license properly follows the rules they are supposed to and is properly educated about the risks and dangers of driving, people will be more cautious and the roads will be a safer place.