Listen and Learn about driving safely

Driving can be fun and exciting, but with driving comes responsibility and danger. Driving is one of the most dangerous things that we do everyday to get to school, work, grocery stores, and more. From wherever we are coming from it’s our jobs to make sure that we all make it back home safely. If something happens to you while driving all the fun and excitement will be over.

First step to driving safely is to learn all you can about road laws, listen to your driving instructor, take notes, and do research on more ways to keep safe. As teenagers, we typically think we know everything and tend not to listen, this is why ages 16-17 get into more accidents than any other age group. Paying attention to older, more experienced drivers can help us in the long run. Even making a few rules for yourself that aren’t laws can help prevent these accidents. I have made myself some rules to follow that can help you too: never drive when angry, feeling uncomfortable with your vehicle or weather conditions, and make sure your phone is fully charged before getting on the road, in case of an emergency. Though it is illegal to be on your phone while driving, it is good to have a reliable phone in the vehicle just in case of getting into or coming by an accident. It is best to pull over if you need to call for help.

Along with learning, comes sharing, we can all learn from each other so it’s best to share our driving stories, whether it’s to give or get advice. We all make mistakes, but those mistakes can teach you or someone else what to do differently next time one of you are on the road. I have learned to listen and to follow the rules from hearing others’ driving stories. When I was 10 years old my parents were out late, while my sisters and I impatiently waited for them to come home, when they finally did we discovered that my parents drove off a small bridge into shallow water. My mom’s side of the van was in the water and her head hit the window. The doctors could never get the small pieces of glass out of her head. Both my parents are still alive, but the van was totaled and my mom still has glass inside her forehead. I could have lost both of my parents that night. Later I learned the reason for the accident, they were going way too fast on a wet road, while arguing, after having a few alcoholic drinks. This is why being safe and taking precautions are important when driving, someone you love can be waiting for you to come home and if something happens to you, someone out there will struggle with the loss of losing you, or even seeing you in pain. Think about what would happen if you were to cause another driver’s pain, and their loved ones pain, everything you do on the road can be crucial to a lot of other people’s lives.

Applying what you have learned is the key point in driving, but you also have to watch out for other drivers that aren’t following the rules or paying attention. My main struggle when I was first learning how to drive was paying attention to all sides of my car when turning, switching lanes, or seeing when another car is making a mistake. If you don’t pay attention to where other cars or pedestrians are, then that can cause major crashes. You can’t only know what you are doing, but be cautious of what others are doing too. Being a pedestrian on the road or crossing the road is also dangerous. You can get injured or cause an accident if you are not paying attention to other people and cars around you. Helping an old person cross the street, helping carry groceries to a car, or even pulling someone who isn’t paying attention out of the way of a vehicle can all be ways we can keep others safe too.

Spread the word to your neighbors, friends and families! The more people are aware of what to do on the road, the safer we all are. Put up billboards, make posts on social media, and call everyone you know. Listen to others stories, share your own, and apply them on the road. Get to where you need to go safely and help others get there too.