The Importance Of Safe Driving

The Importance of Safe Driving

Driving was something I looked forward to my entire life, and I counted down the days to my 16th birthday so that I could get behind the wheel. However, I needed to become educated about driving before I got on the road for the safety of others as well as myself. Driver education aims to provide you with the awareness, skills, and attitudes required as a driver and as a pedestrian for vehicle safety. It allows students to learn the rules of the road, adjust the car to your liking and safety, practice communication on the road, and most importantly how to stay safe on the road.

One experience that has had a significant impact on me when I got into an accident with my brother my sophomore year of high school, an experience I will never forget. A few minutes into the drive on our way to church, Mark, my brother, had looked down his phone for one second to put in the address on the GPS not knowing that would be the cause of us crashing at a high speed into the car ahead of us. With the rain on the ground and his inability to brake in time, the car slid in rain and totaled the car. Although nobody was hurt, the collision had me shaking, bewildered, and in shock. The person in the other car was not harmed but was crying because of the same shock I was experiencing. The collision had me shaking for the next couple of hours and put me through emotional stress and anxiety when in a car for the next couple of months.

Although this incident took a significant toll on my mental and emotional health, it served as a learning experience that I will never forget. Most importantly, I experienced first hand the danger and risk of using a cell phone while driving. I learned the importance of keeping your cell phone away while driving unless it is an emergency. In that case, you can pull over and use it as necessary. Now when I drive, I make sure to never use my phone because I know it is not only a harm to myself and the people I’m driving, but it is also a harm to others on the road. Another thing I learned from this experience was the impact of whether on driving. In this scenario, the rainy day caused the car to take longer to come to a complete stop; however, it was clear he didn’t stop in time. So it is important to always pay attention to the weather and drive accordingly. For example, during the rain, it is important to drive slower, keep more distance between your car the car in front of you, and brake earlier. I hope this accident can serve as a learning experience not only to me but to all new drivers.

There are many steps that I can take to become a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer drivers. First and foremost, one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents is distracted driving. With the rise of technology, distracted driving is becoming more popular to a point where it is scary. One step to take to become a better driver is to minimize all possible distractions, whether it’s your phone or even other passengers. Something that is commonly overlooked however I can’t stress enough how important it is the seatbelt. You must always wear your seatbelt in the car because it really does save lives. Another thing that is commonly overlooked but extremely important are the signs and rules on the road. The speed limit isn’t a recommendation, it is a law. It is there for a reason. Finally, one of the most important steps to being a safe driver is to never step into the driver’s seat after consuming alcohol. It is also one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents and it could be so easily avoided. I have no doubt in my mind that these steps will stay engraved in my head on the road and I hope my experiences on the road as well as these steps can help all drivers be educated and safe.