Safe Driving

Drivers’ education is extremely important in reducing the number of car accident fatalities. It teaches you not to be distracted while driving. It also teaches you the importance of having your mirrors placed correctly so you can properly see what is around you. You learn how to check for your blind spot. Everything you need to know about safety while driving is vital. There are astronomical number of deaths each year due to distracted and unsafe driving practices.

There are multiple ways to reduce the number of deaths each year. If we make driver’s education a required course again, that will help teenagers learn responsibility. I was never put into drivers’ education, and I had a fear of driving for a long time. Also, parents can teach you bad habits while driving, such as aggressive driving and not using a blinker to change lanes. We pick up on what our parents do, starting at a young age. This molds us and molds the kind of driver we could be. I also think making it mandatory turn on drivers’ mode for their cell phone would be wise. This keeps drivers from being distracted by text messages and emails.

Unfortunately, I seem to be a magnet for car accidents. When I was learning to drive, I got rear ended and backed into an hour apart. The first accident was caused because the other driver did not see the light turn red and were on their phone. The second accident the driver didn’t look behind them before backing up. In 2014 I hit a deer going down a hill and now I’m overly cautious while driving home at night as deer are everywhere. I was then rear ended again in 2017; the driver didn’t see traffic coming to an abrupt stop and was looking down for her breakfast. I was scared to drive on highways for a long time and had to talk to my therapist to overcome this fear. In 2019 I got merged into while on the highway. I was in the other driver’s blind spot, and they didn’t see my car. How my car has not been totaled I do not know. I am also cautious while parking, because if it even looks like my car won’t fit, I choose another spot. I had my car hit while I was parked on the side of the road overnight. I don’t want to do any more damage to my, or someone else’s car. All these accidents have been a great lesson teaching me I need to be a better defensive driver. I also refuse to parallel park in Denver anymore.

Steps I can take to be a better driver is to be more aware of my surroundings. I feel a lot of these accidents could have been avoided if I had been more aware of what was happening behind me and to the side of me. I tend to zone out when I’m on a drive that I make repeatedly a week, such as going to work. I also tend to focus more on my music, which doesn’t help me be aware. Another thing I can do to be a better driver is not listening to my music as loud as I do. I was almost side swiped again by another car because I didn’t know they needed to merge over for a police car that was passing us. I didn’t hear the sirens because I was blasting music. I also tend to talk on the phone over my Bluetooth when I’m alone in my car because I get bored driving by myself. Drivers should not be on their phones while driving. I feel if I can teach others from my mistakes, they can avoid being hit as many times as I have.

Another issue I’ve noticed, especially from my spouse, is people text and drive. This is so dangerous. I know people who also look things up while driving. I feel if we made it so it was easier to pull over on the side of the road so we could look up GPS destinations, there wouldn’t be as many distracted drivers I know I’m guilty of looking up locations on Google maps while driving. Utah is a good state because they have signs to pull over and sleep on the side of the road if you’re tired. I believe more states need that. My husband has been in two accidents because he fell asleep at the wheel. One caused a five-car accident, including his vehicle. Getting better rest if you have to drive early in the morning is also vital because it helps you be alert.

I don’t know what I could do to help others become safer drivers other than lead by example. If you’re too tired to drive, see if someone can take you and pick you up or call and Uber. Do not drink and drive, my brother did, and it ruined his life. More people need to hear that one DUI can ruin your driving record and people’s faith in hiring you. I’m just thankful he didn’t get into an accident. One thing my husband and I did was take turns drinking if we were out on a date. This way one of us were always sober. It’s okay to want to have a good time but be smart about it.

Being willing to take drivers’ ed and making it more accessible would help people be better and safer drivers. Staying off the phone and turning down your music can help prevent accidents. I, as of today, turned on do not disturb while driving. It turns on when connected to my Bluetooth and it detects that I am driving. Not looking for something while you’re driving is a dangerous decision. If something falls onto the driver’s side floorboard, safely pull over and get it. Do not try to get it while driving.

If I try to be a better and safer driver, then at least I am doing my part. I cannot control others; I can only show them by example not to do dangerous things. If I can show someone, and they show someone, it becomes a chain reaction. One drop of rain in the ocean can still make a splash. We lead by example, if we do not do what we preach, then people will not listen. The saying “Do as a I say, not as I do,” is a dangerous saying because it shows you’re above the law and above keeping others safe. I heard that too many times while learning to drive and I saw my dad make mistakes. If I can show my niece my responsible habits, now that she is driving and has her license, she can follow in my footsteps. She can then show her friends by being an example of safe driving. I will also slow down on speeding; I do not need to constantly go 5mph over the speed limit when I drive.

It starts with one person being a safer driver. Eventually there will be a big enough ripple that it can become a wave of safer drivers. The more aware we are of other drivers and our surroundings can help avoid accidents. Go slower on that hill at night, don’t always be in such a rush to get to your destination. The destination will be there whether you speed or not. Making sure you leave with enough time to get there promptly is important. Don’t cut a driver off, do not be an aggressive driver. These are all basics of driving we seemed to have forgotten. We need to do better.