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Driver Education Round 3 – Safe Driving 101 by Dorian Smith

Safe Driving 101

Seeing my parents drive looked easy coming from the view on the passenger side or backseat, then for about a year now I see that it is harder than it looks as a licensed driver. I see that even when driving you have to not only look out for yourself but for others as well. As a Florida driver, I can tell you that Florida drivers are pretty terrible at it as I am always having to use my brakes and staying focused on the road not to be in an accident. While driving on the road along with what my parents have taught me I know its important that I use extra caution on the road. Even on the open road, I still have to look at different things on and around the road. Through these interactions on the road so far I have learned how to be a safer and educated driver with my parents’ help and my experience on the road.

The importance of safe driving is to help reduce the deaths on the road. About 1.35 million people die on the road from car accidents and fatal car crashes which is the leading cause of death over dying from old age and the flu. I believe most people get into these car accidents because they are not paying attention or they are not focused on the road. A good way to defeat those distractions is to not be on your phone, have everything you need in the car, and leave earlier to go to your destination. I have personally seen people switch lanes without a signal light on and cause accidents on the road. The correct way is to always turn our signal light on even when you have a good distance in front of the car behind you: you never know what can happen.

The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are not using your cellphone while operating your car. Teens and young adults are on their phones a lot even on the road which is a reason why most of their accidents happen due to texting while driving and not using a hands free device phone on the road. Being on your phone on the road, in some states, is illegal which shows you that it is a major red flag and danger to use while on the road. About 1.6 million car crashes each year are caused by people being on their cellphones. People are addicted to their phones causing harm to themselves and other people around them in their vehicles.

Approximately, 400,000 people each year are injured or killed because of cellphone use while driving. Studies show that there is an increase of 400% of the time people spend not paying attention on the road. Another step that can be taken is for drivers to have everything they need and organized before going on the road. Most people on the road are not really focused at times which is very bad because you drive poorly if you cannot see. If you have everything organized, you will not have to have the need to look for it or reach into a bag or purse while not paying attention causing an accident. When you know you will need something, it is best for you to have it on the passenger seat so it can be easy to get to while driving.

Leaving for your destination early can help people be on time and not rushing to arrive. Also it helps with pacing yourself, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances, and not feeling rushed to get to your destination. This helps eliminate car accidents, worrying about time, and causes drivers to focus more.

Car accidents can be devastating to people’s lives which leads to trauma for a short and/or long periods of time. While visiting us in Florida helping our family out following my Dad’s surgery, my grandmother was in a car accident that was not her fault. She had the green light in the left turning lane making her turn with signal light on and a man, we later learned is a surgeon, went through his red light and T boned my grandmother. The reason he ran through the red light was because he had his head down, not focused, reading a text message and did not see the light had turned red. She was very shaken up when I arrived on the scene and repeatedly said, “I tried to speed up so he wouldn’t hit me but he hit me anyway.” Her fifteen year old faithful car was totaled and she would have to purchase a brand new Honda Pilot after not having payments for three years. Due to the traumatic event, every time she has the green light to turn she takes a while to make her turn because of what she experienced during the accident.

Other examples of accidents in Florida I am aware of that my peers were involved with.. During my sophomore year, I had a friend who was in a car accident and she missed about two weeks of school due to her injuries. Also, there was a teen who died from a car accident due to speeding on the highway, flipped his car over and ended up in the ditch. A lot of people in the city were sad and expressed their condolences to the family. All of these accidents have caused me to be a safer driver and pay close attention while on the road.

My exposure to accidents, not using a cellphone while driving, having everything I need in close reach, and leaving early are examples of being a safe, attentive driver. I believe the more people pay attention on the roads, not be in a rush to get somewhere, and pulling over to use their cellphones will decrease the number of accidents on the road as well as save lives. Driving is a privilege not a right, if people will obey the laws and be more aware when driving in America, especially Florida, our roads will be much safer.

Credits: https://www.thewanderingrv.com/car-accident-statistics/

https://www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cause-of-accident/cell-phone/cell-phone-statistics.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving