The Importance of Driving Safe

I will never forget the day I was in the backseat of the car driving with my family from church. We were laughing and talking on the interstate and a car sped past us. The next thing I know, my dad slams on breaks and the cars to the right of us were all stopped in a line. The car that sped in front of us had lost control and was going in circles. If we had been just a few inches closer to that car, we would have been hit along with the cars to the right of us. Thankfully, the driver did not hit anyone or anything, but when the car finally stopped, the driver sped off like nothing had happened. I remember thinking to myself, why? Did he not realize what happened? Did he not realize how lucky he was to not have died or hit anyone? Many drivers today feel like driving is their right and do not realize that driving is only a privilege. Yes, driving is a necessity, but why is it that drivers, especially young ones feel like it is cool to put their lives in jeopardy? What they do not realize is, it is not just them on the road, but many other people as well. What they do not realize is that driving is not and has never been a game. Driver education is important, because it not only shows current and future drivers the benefits, but also the disadvantages of driving. It shows the importance of safe driving and how many deaths could be prevented by being cautious. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, it is important to make sure you are alert and aware of your surroundings. It is also important to make sure that you are not driving drunk or under the influence of any drugs. Additionally, it is important to make sure that you have no distractions such as using the phone, changing the channel to a radio station, or even eating. I have seen family members drive irresponsibly and makes me so upset, because at the end of the day, the place you are trying to get to or the show you’re trying to watch on time will always be there, but the ability to bring a life back will not be. To me, it is super important to drive safe and be cautious when driving, because you never know what can happen. Although it may be exciting to get your first car and show it off to your friends, being responsible is the best example. To drive safe, I find it important to pull over if you need to make a call or text someone. Additionally, if you feel tired or sick, pull over call someone or take a break. Driving can be exhausting and knowing that you can be a danger to someone on the road by driving under dangerous conditions can seriously injure or kill someone. My brother is in high school and works with the fire department and has told me of stories he has seen from careless driving and it is scary. A driver may never truly be prepared to drive or even know what to do in certain situations that may be out of his or her control, but knowing ways that he or she can prevent negative things from happening within his or herself is important. I will never forget the many videos that I saw in school related to drunk driving or texting and driving, because they not only put fear in me, but also put the oath to drive responsibly in me. Truly knowing that the ability to drive is a privilege that can be taken away is important. So many lives could have been protected if people drove responsibly and cared about those around them. If I know anyone driving irresponsibly, I make it a point to let them know they aren’t the only ones on the road and no matter how much experience you think you have, it is never okay to jeopardize the life of others for any reason. Everyone does make mistakes, but some mistakes can be avoided by making sure to do things the safe way. A lot of people may think it is not cooled to drive slow or cautiously, especially those who are young, but it is not cooled to jeopardize the lives of others. If I drive with friends or family, I want to set an example I drive, because my example can save a life.