Driving Safety

Driving Safety

A drivers ed is critical in reducing the number of deaths on the road. One way that a drivers ed reduces driving fatalities is by ensuring that student drivers know the rules and laws of driving before receiving their license. For example, a driver that does not know how to merge into traffic can easily have an accident. Furthermore, a good drivers ed will have students practice driving on the road. Driving practice is vital because, if a student has never driven in on public roads, driving would be daunting, and nervous drivers are never safe drivers! Finally, a drivers ed will encourage students to drive safely by teaching students about various driving dangers. However, in addition to a drivers ed, a driver has the responsibility to reduce distractions, to not speed, and to use his vehicle’s safety features.

Seeing a vehicle swerving on the road because the driver is using the phone is not uncommon. The Chicago Tribune reported that 25% of drivers used a phone before having an accident¹. Therefore, more drivers are encouraged to use hands-free devices instead. But, according to Driver’s Alert, a driver’s safety company, hands-free devices are four times more distracting than talking to an adult passenger¹. As a result, responsible drivers should download apps that block text and calls while driving; doing so would almost eliminate the temptation of looking at the phone while driving.

While my dad was driving my sister and me down a windy road, a truck behind us considerably accelerated and pasted us on a curve. After passing us, the truck continued accelerating far exceeding the speed limit. Sadly, drivers seemingly do not realize the danger of speeding. A 2016 survey by EverQuote Auto Insurance found that 42% of drivers do not believe going 10 mph over the speed limit is speeding¹. Hence, it is no surprise that the Bureau of Transportation Statistics in 2017 stated that the primary factor in highway deaths is speeding¹. Drivers need the personal responsibility of not speeding to protect themselves and others.

In 1966, a vehicle backing out of a driveway killed my five-year-old aunt. Today, my family realizes the importance of new safety features in cars such as review cameras in preventing similar accidents from happening again. NHTSA estimates that the fatality risk for today’s vehicles is 56% lower than the average 1950s vehicle¹. Considering that the NHTSA reports that human error is responsible for 94% of serious crashes, safety features in cars will hopefully reduce the number of serious crashes¹. A responsible driver would utilize his vehicle’s safety features to hopefully prevent an accident.

As a future driver myself, I want to be an example of a safe driver for my younger sisters to follow. To be a good example, I will get a drivers ed so that I fully understand how to drive. Also, I will have the responsibility to avoid distractions, to not speed, and to use my vehicle’s safety features.