Driving Saftey

Driving is an ingrained part of daily adult life. Most people consider a car a necessity and accept commute times to and from work or social events. With the vast amounts of drivers and cars on the road its hard not to think about the what if’s of being on the road. What if I didn’t stop in time on the freeway in a traffic jam? What if the driver next to me didn’t check their mirror before merging? Many of these concerns are addressed in drivers ed classes and can alleviate concerns drivers may have.

The deaths in driving related incidents often come down to a split-second moment. Stopping a second earlier, deciding to slow down a second sooner, or taking the extra few seconds to check rear view mirrors one extra time. Divers should slow down and take those few extra moments to really check their surroundings and hazards on the road to see a reduction in vehicle accidents.

My father was T-boned by another car at an intersection almost a year ago. The driver who hit him didn’t check the three-way intersection therefore didn’t see my dad before he made his left turn. While looking right he moved forward and smashed right into my dad. Had that driver taken a pause for caution and checked both right and left an extra time before turning this accident could’ve been easily avoided.

This was the most visceral example of my life of irresponsible drivers. Since this accident I’ve noticed when my friends drive too fast and loose. Young people who usually are fresh out of drivers ed classes don’t realize how small the margin of error they actually have while on the road. Too many times I’ve been a passenger to a speeding driver who never checks mirrors or takes turns too fast. In these situations, I tend to remind drivers that they not only have their life in their hands while driving but that they also have mine in their hands. This usually reminds them to be cautious and they pay more attention to what’s going on. But in the cases where that warning doesn’t work, I usually avoid being their passenger in the future.

Driving is a pillar of independence and freedom most adults are proud to have and wouldn’t give up willingly. With this pleasure comes great responsibility that adults must pay attention too. We all want to enjoy the wide open road and we all should do so safely.