Safe Driving to Save Lives

Safe Driving to Save Lives

There are monumental moments in your life that you will never forget. Some of these will represent growth and maturity, while others may bring bliss or trigger sadness. Earning your license is one of those monumental memories. I remember feeling the slick new card and carefully placing it in the crisp ID slot of the new wallet I bought, specifically for this moment. You sit there and you think to yourself, “The places I’ll go, the freedom I’ll have…”, yet the last thought is always the responsibility you hold.

As a teenager, there is a dread in the drivers ed course and a longing for the permit expiration, so you can reach the point of being officially licensed. Driver’s safety education is more important than any part in the process of being able to drive. In fact, drivers ed courses and tests shouldn’t be a one time moment in your driving career. It should be permitted by law that licensed individuals participate in drivers ed every 4 years along with their license renewal. With those procedures in play, drivers should have no excuse in unsafe driving, especially in the abuse of substances and driving under the influence. Although the user may lack the care of their safety, the ignorance of their judgment should never cost the lives of others.

Living 40 minutes on the outskirts of town, I drive along a mountainside and have always taken driving safety very seriously. At a young age, I’ve seen the chaos of motorcyclists passing the car out of impatience and wiping out on the next curve. I’ve seen the apprehension in the eyes of a man or woman whose loved one’s stability is on the line, because of his or her mistake. I’ve seen swerving and lane cutting from countless, reckless drivers who don’t have the sense to consider that the car passing by holds a family, or a father on his way home.

As obvious as it may seem, generalize safe driving. People SHOULD fear the roads and know that anything can happen in one moment. PSA to reckless drivers: The idea that someone out there is probably driving worse than you, shouldn’t justify your irresponsibility or put you at peace. Drive safer so that the people you don’t know, won’t have to worry about your driving.

It shouldn’t take a drastic story or personal experience to shock you into the reality of driving cautiously. Take a pledge now. Stress the idea at your school, in your community. Remind your family and friends, so you never come to wish you had more often.

Don’t let a monumental moment be the reason you drive safely.