Importance of Safe Driving

Jazmine Richardson

As a teenager driving is at the top of my to-do list, it is something that stays on my mind constantly. However, many different things come with the responsibility of driving. Before I started driving I enrolled in a school since I had to get lessons on driving. When I first started my lessons I had but to attend an eight-hour sit-in class. During this class, I watched multiple videos on people giving their testimonies on how they got into a really bad life-changing car accident, Or how families and friends sadly lost a loved one due to a bad car accident. Later I was able to get behind the wheel and was able to start my behind-the-wheel lessons. It is crucial that we have these lessons so teenagers like me will be aware of the deadly consequences of driving if not done properly. These lessons could reduce the number of deaths due to us being able to hear real stories. We are also able to practice with trained professionals on driving, and how to do it successfully. Motor vehicle deaths could be reduced if people would follow simple rules. First, always buckle up and make sure all passengers in the motor vehicle are buckled up. Doing this could reduce up to 50% of deaths. Never pick up your phone while driving. I know as a teen it is hard to stay off your phone since it is very entertaining however, this is a major distraction that can easily be resulted in death, the text can wait until you are at your destination safely. Never get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs. This can get you a DUI, which can get you fined, or time in jail, but most importantly it could cost you a life. Lastly do not speed or race others. Speeding and racing should never be practiced if you do not have a reserved area to do so. I have not gotten into an accident while driving myself. However, during my 4th grade year my aunt, sister, and I got into an accident after leaving the church. We were sitting at a red light waiting for it to turn green, While waiting I remember hearing tires screeching then bam we got hit. The impact was hard but not hard enough to throw us out our windows. I remember I did not even have my seatbelt on I never thought it was a big deal since I always sat in the back, I learned my lesson from first-hand experience. After that car accident, I also remember my sister being out of it for a little bit, and my aunts’ neck hurting really really bad. The next day I still had a headache, so my grandpa took my sister and me to the local emergency room to make sure we were ok and no damage was done internally. Still an event I will never forget. I am already a pretty good driver if I do say so myself however, I could become even better by making sure I am not turning too slow doing this is bad because the person behind me could be turning fast and could hit me. Others could become safer on the road by not getting distracted by their phones. I often see more people on their phones while driving than people not on their phones. Another way I would help people be safer would be looking in their mirrors and blind spots before getting into another lane. I say this since not too long ago my sister, mom, and I got into an accident due to my sister not looking over her shoulder to see if anything was in her blind spot. Lastly, I would tell people not to speed. Speeding is bad because someone could jump out in front of you because they thought you were further behind but since you are speeding now you are right behind them. If you have to speed you should have left earlier. To sum up, everything stated before. Safe driving is the best driving. There are schools put in place to help us drive if we need it, Or you can get your own personal teacher’s ed. Both are here to help reduce the deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents. We can also use different steps to reduce these deaths, Such as making sure all passengers put on seatbelts, do not drink and drive, never get distracted by their phones, And do not multitask while driving.