In the Driver’s Seat

I have had my driver’s license for about two years. When I took driver’s education classes we spent half of the time watching videos of crashes. It scared us into being better drivers. As much as I didn’t like watching those videos, I believe it made me a more cautious driver.

How can we reduce the number of deaths related to driving? The obvious solution is to not drive distracted. Put your phone on silent when driving. If the text or call is very important, have a passenger answer for you or pull over. Don’t eat and drive at the same time. Get your music, navigation, and air conditioning ready before you start driving. If you play music, keep it quiet, especially in heavy traffic.

The second way to reduce the number of crashes is to drive defensively. If someone is tailgating you, let them pass you. Make sure that you have the right-of-way at all times. Don’t rush to get through a yellow light before it changes. Defensive driving requires patience and alertness. It will make you a safer driver.

I have never been in a collision with another driver, but my parents had. When I was four, my dad got in a collision. The other driver ran a red light and hit the side of his car. Had he not been wearing his seatbelt, he might have died in that collision. He had a concussion that led him to have to go to multiple doctors before he overdosed on painkillers. My current dad was rear-ended once because the other driver was on their phone. It is clear who and why these accidents happened, but some instances are both people’s fault or neither. That’s why it is important to concentrate on driving and to drive defensively.

My parents are good drivers most of the time, but they sometimes drive irresponsibly. My dad sometimes turns in the far lane on one-way streets. He will eat while he is driving. Both of my parents will check their phones while driving. They take phone calls while driving. They will drive above the speed limit if we’re late, which we usually are. All of these things are common among drivers but should not be.

I’ve already laid out what to do if you are the driver, but what can you do if you are a passenger? You can answer the phone calls and texts for the driver. You can control music and air conditioning. You can navigate for the person driving. If you have your license you could offer to drive while they eat. All of these things will make them safe drivers. You could point out the mistakes they make as well, but make sure not to overdo it. They may focus on correcting the mistakes that they will not be focusing on driving overall.

In conclusion, drivers should always be focused on the road. Passengers should try to help them achieve this. The best way to prevent accidents is to educate young drivers. The world will be much safer if everyone does these things.