Driving Safely is More Important

What teenager does not yearn for their driver’s license as soon as they hit their sixteenth birthday? Fantasizing a teenage dream of accelerating down the road through cold wind on their very first car -maybe the sports one they asked for or the common sedan a loving parent worked so hard to buy -, music blasting high through the speakers and racing with friends at the same time they attempt to avoid authority. All that only to feel the satisfaction of a dose of adrenaline an act of rebellion could grant. Feeling the ruler of everything at the very peak of excitement as the heartbeat rate increases more and more. Nevertheless, this is not one of those movies where a good ending awaits for all the characters. This is the real world where a wrong turn, an unseen redlight, and an unrespected road sign unfortunately lead to the eternal slumber of an innocent being, belying the perfection of that so-called teenage dream that can only be present in fiction and imagination.

Correct driving manners need to be teached and recalled constantly. Not only with teenagers, but also with experienced drivers who, even though have practiced for enough time to gain a certain level of expertise, still have some flaws in the way they operate a vehicle. My dad, for example, has driven for more than thirty years. As long as I remember, he has had the habit of tailgating while rushing. No matter how many times me and my family have told him to stop doing it because that could potentially cause a car accident and lead to severe consequences, he does not do so. I personally feel unsafe whenever this irresponsible action is made. In order to reduce these types of incidents that can lead to fatalities, people must be taught from a young age and be reminded what correct driving methods ought to be displayed and what things should be avoided on the road.

The importance of driving education needs to be discussed deeply to prevent many deaths related to irresponsible driving behavior around the United States. One way to take action is to buckle up, even if you will travel for short distances. It may seem like a minor step, but it actually reduces risk of injury greatly. According to the article “Seat Belts” by the United States Department of Transportation, in 2015, seat belts reduced by 45% the probability of fatal injury, preventing you from ejecting out of the vehicle or colliding the windshield. The proper way to fasten them is by making sure the shoulder belt is placed in the chest – particularly in the middle- and not in the neck. Meanwhile, the lap belt must be placed on the hips.

Equally important, airbags accompany seat belts to guarantee safer conditions for the pilot and passengers. If a car crash ever happens, air bags will imminently activate to protect the upper body from hitting the inner parts of the automobile, avoiding concussions or any other types of wounds to occur. It is important to check any abnormality within the airbag system because they could use tem to function incorrectly at a critical moment. For instance, an inspection of this system must be done if ten years after the manufacture of the vehicle have passed to ensure the correct functioning of what could potentially save many people’s lives.

Avoiding overspeeding, even if you are late for that appointment or job interview, will certify that you and others will arrive safely to your destinations. Nothing is worth exceeding the speed limit. Ranked by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding is the number one cause of car accidents and deaths on the road. It is way better to arrive late and unharmed than not arriving at all.

Another thing to keep under consideration is the conditions in which you will drive, such as the weather forecast, the road itself and its surroundings, the car’s state, and even your own conditions. You will have to check the climate forecast before leaving a place to know what time of the day it will be calmer to drive. Many highways or roads are not properly maintained and there might not be a reliable setting like abrupt curves or bumps. Therefore you will be aware of your surroundings at all times. Additionally, a deep inspection of your vehicle should be done frequently to evade future failures that might put you and the general public in a dangerous position. Moreover, you must be in optimal conditions to be able to drive; free from any nocive substances, well rested, alert, without any distractions and thus concentrated on the road. By contemplating all this, the probability of having a safer trip increases massively while car accidents are kept away.

Every individual has the responsibility of taking care of each other, even if that means sacrificing time or effort on doing so. Taking the time to learn correctly good driving behaviors will reduce the amount of deaths related to reckless driving. Our roads can become a safer place for all of us to transit if we all work together to become better citizens. Now that I will be a driver, I will keep in mind that security is more important than anything else and respect others by driving properly.