A Split Second: The Importance of Safe Driving

Each year, approximately 1.35 million people die in car crashes worldwide, with an average of 3,700 deaths every day. Nationwide, around 43 percent of first-year drivers and 37 percent of second-year drivers are involved in car crashes. These statistics are proof that inexperienced drivers need to be educated about driving in order to avoid such crashes.

Driver’s education courses are important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving because they teach young drivers their state’s traffic laws, judgement, and how to drive in different weather conditions.

One reason why driver’s education courses are important is because they teach unaccustomed drivers the traffic laws in their state. While every state has the same basic traffic laws (driving down the right side of the road, obeying speed limits, etc.), there are some differing laws regarding more detailed aspects of driving.

One law that differs in some states is the speed limit. Different states may have slightly different speed limits on both highways and normal roads, so it is important to be aware of that, especially if you are driving through multiple states. You want to always be aware of the speed limit in order to avoid getting a ticket or causing a car crash.

Another traffic law that differs in several states is the laws for receiving a DUI. In most states, the legal intoxication limit of 0.08 percent blood-alcohol level. However, in some states, the legal limit is lower, with some states having an intoxication limit of 0.04 percent. 0.04 percent can be achieved with just a single drink, so it is important to know your state’s limit to avoid getting a ticket. Additionally, it’s just safer to not drive at all after drinking.

A third law that varies for each state is whether it is legal to turn on a red light. In some states, turning on a red light is completely fine, but in others, it can result in both a fine for turning on a red light and a charge for endangering the lives of others. In addition to receiving a fine, turning on red can result in a car crash because other drivers are not going to be looking out for drivers turning on red, since it is illegal.

Overall, it is important to be aware of the traffic laws for your specific state because it can prevent car crashes and being fined.

A second reason driver’s education courses are important is because they teach new drivers judgement to avoid crashes. There are many cases where there is no specific way to handle or react to a situation when on the road, so it is important that new drivers learn good judgement skills in order to safely react to any situation that may arise. There is no way to practice having a car merge into your lane and almost hit you, or a car running a red light, so these are things drivers need to be prepared to experience and handle. If they are aware of these possible occurrences, new drivers can be taught how to react to them so that if they do happen, the driver may be able to drive away unscathed.

A third reason why driver’s education classes are important is because they teach new drivers how to safely drive in various weather conditions. Driver’s education courses teach new drivers basic rules for driving in snow: keep your windshields and windows clear, drive slowly, maintain further distance between your car and the car in front of you, avoid fast turns, and avoid quick stops. It is extremely important to learn these skills so that new drivers can avoid being in car crashes due to unfavorable weather conditions.

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. One way to reduce deaths from driving is that new drivers should take a driver’s education course. These classes can reduce the likelihood of being involved in a car crash by nearly 75 percent. A study was done to determine if driver’s education courses were truly helpful in reducing car crashes and fatalities involved in car crashes. “Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed” (newsroom.unl.edu). These numbers prove that driver’s education classes are able to reduce the number of car accidents and fatalities.

Although I have never been involved in a car accident, I have witnessed irresponsible driving from family members. Two of my family members have a habit of controlling the steering wheel with their knee and doing something with their hands (putting on lotion or hand sanitizer, eating, etc.). While they only do this when they are driving straight (they use their hands for turning), it still makes me nervous, and I still consider it to be dangerous. I have also witnessed some family members text while driving, which is just outright dangerous.

There are some steps I can take to be a better driver. One way I can be a safer driver is by not using my phone while driving. Of course, I would never consider texting while driving, but I don’t even want to be on a phone call while driving. I took a Psychology course last Spring, and one of the concepts I remember is that simply being on a phone call while driving is just as dangerous (or even more dangerous) as drinking while driving. Many people believe that they can multitask when using different senses: listening and writing (or just doing any physical task), for example. This is called inattentional blindness. It is the failure to notice something perfectly visible due to one’s attention being engaged in another task. Therefore, I will avoid making or answering phone calls while driving.

Another step I can take to be a better and safer driver is to never remove my hands from the wheel for any reason. I have experienced family members driving with their knee in order to do something with their hands while driving, and while this has never resulted in an accident, it makes it more likely to occur. If I absolutely need to use my hands for something, I will pull over and do it. Putting on hand sanitizer or eating is not worth crashing my car.

I can help others be safe on the road by making them aware of possible dangers that they may have previously not been aware of. I can remind my family members that have a few dangerous habits that their actions, though they may seem safe to them, have the possibility of causing a car crash.

All in all, it is important to drive safely in order to keep yourself and others safe.

Works Cited

“COMMON TRAFFIC SAFETY LAWS THAT MAY VARY BY STATE.” Free DMV Practice Tests, freedmvpracticetests.com/blog/common-traffic-safety-laws-that-may-vary-by-state.

“Road Safety Facts.” Association for Safe International Road Travel, 10 Jan. 2022, www.asirt.org/safe-travel/road-safety-facts/.

“Tips and Statistics.” Safety Insurance, Safety Insurance Company, www.safetyinsurance.com/driversafety/tips_statistics.html#:~:text=Nationwide, 43 percent of first,in a four-year study.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Web Developer Network. “Study: Driver’s Ed Significantly Reduces Teen Crashes, Tickets.” Study: Driver’s Ed Significantly Reduces Teen Crashes, Tickets | News Releases | University of Nebraska-Lincoln, newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study: Driver’s ed significantly reduces teen crashes, tickets#maincontent.