The Importance of Being a Safe Driver

When an individual is behind the wheel, they are immediately responsible for the lives inside the dozens of other cars surrounding them on the road. A family bringing their newborn baby home from the hospital, a couple going on their first date, best friends going on a road trip; these precious moments can instantly be taken away by an unsafe and irresponsible driver.

While finally being able to drive a car is a thrilling milestone for most teenagers, it also comes with an immense amount of responsibility. All drivers need to know the traffic rules, how their vehicle operates, and what to do in various driving scenarios and situations to ensure the safety of everyone they are on the road with. While most of these things may come as common sense, it is easy to get sidetracked and forget these little things, resulting in an accident that could end up costing someone’s life. When people are not responsible while they are driving, the consequences of it does not only affect them, but other drivers as well. In 2018, around 400,000 people were injured as a result of distracted driving, and over 2,800 were killed. The majority of these accidents could have been prevented if the drivers were more responsible and aware of their surroundings, not letting things like their cell phone or music distract them. These are people who never got to see their loved ones again, all because of irresponsible driving.

Being a safe driver requires having good judgement and knowledge while on the road. Not trying to race through yellow lights, constantly checking all mirrors, and staying in the speed limit are just a few ways drivers can practice being safe on the road. It is important for drivers to stay aware of their surroundings at all times so that they know what is going on around them. Being aware of emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and construction can allow drivers to alter their driving to fit these conditions and ensure the safety of everyone around. While driving a vehicle, it is important for the driver to know how to properly operate it and what certain things mean. Over 40% of people do not read the owner’s manual to their vehicle. Not reading the manual can be extremely dangerous, causing a driver to be unaware of what certain pop-up lights mean or how to fix and operate certain things in their vehicle. This puts themselves in danger as well as others on the road if their car were to malfunction and the operator of the vehicle does not know what to do.

The road is a shared place, and everyone must do their part to keep it safe. Driving a car is a serious task that is way more than just steering and putting a foot on a pedal. It is an activity that requires people to interact with dozens of other vehicles on the road, all holding the lives of other people. People have to acknowledge the fact that they have to be responsible and safe when they drive so everything goes smoothly. Nobody wants to become just another statistic in a car accident study.