Trouble with Today’s Drivers

Having a proper driving education can help a ton. Everyone must learn the rules of the road before being granted the power of being able to drive on it alone. Although some people make their own rules as soon as they are comfortable. For instance, many people go above the posted speed limit, although there is some leeway, there are also strict limitations. People end up becoming a reckless driver after having driven for so many years. The importance of driver education can reduce the number of accidents and deaths significantly. For example, if someone does not stop correctly at a four-way stop sign, multiple cars and people could get significantly hurt or die. It is imperative that everyone know and follow the rules of proper driving education.

To reduce the number of deaths caused by driving accidents, more people could choose to follow the laws rather than spin them their own way. Many people, for instance, will turn their blinkers on for a second to get halfway over into the next lane, instead of turning it on for the whole time they check, get over and are safely in the lane next to them. Many people text and drive, unfortunately, so flashing your blinker would not do any good if someone is too busy on their phone. It is better to leave it on too long than too short. I make sure I turn my blinker on a few seconds early and a few seconds late to ensure it was seen by those around me. I check all my blind spots while driving, turning, and changing lanes, as well. I would recommend driving safer yourself so maybe someone can pick up on it if there is a situation that could have ended badly, had you not been a safe driver, or I have looked into bumper stickers that can help remind someone of the proper driving etiquette rules. I, also, think it would be a good idea to have everyone with a license retest every few years to ensure they are driving correctly and are aware of their laws.

On October 15^th of last year, I rear-ended someone on the interstate. Although I was following all the rules I was taught, it is good to have outsider information on tips for the area. I had been too close to the person in front of me when the whole lane slammed on their brakes. The police officer who helped me informed me that everyone on that interstate was driving way too close together given how many cars and 18-wheelers there were traveling at that time. He informed me that instead of staying one or two car lengths behind, as we are taught in school, you should be four to five car lengths, or more if you are behind an 18-wheeler. I have learned from my accident to stay further away from cars depending on the traffic and speed limit. I am lucky my accident was not worse. It only involved me and the person in front of me, the only damage was to my car’s front hood. Although, if I had been texting and driving when the brakes were slammed, I would not have been able to react as fast as I did and slam my own brakes, which would have cause me to collide with the car in front of me at a higher speed and end up with more damages and injuries to not only myself but those behind me and in front of me.

I have had many experiences with bad drivers. Whether I was watching from the driver’s or passenger seats onto others or if I was in the car with the bad driver. For example, my mother texts and drives and goes by her own rules rather than the one’s we are taught. She has been driving for about 30 years and has been texting while driving for about 20 of those years. She tells us, she is “good at it” because she has been doing it for so long. No one is “good” at texting and driving. It is unsafe to take your eyes off the road for too long no matter how many years of experience you have. You will always miss something when your eyes are not focused on the road and that can end poorly, for you and others. My family has tried to tell her it is not safe, but she insists we are not used to it so she must text us when we text her or we will worry. Although, this is half true. If she texted us when she was leaving to go somewhere and when she arrived at that place, we would not be worried because we are aware she is driving and must focus.

Everyone needs to be reminded of the rules of the road, especially those who have been doing it longer and are more used to driving. It would save a lot of trouble if there were less accidents on the road. Less people would die, less injuries would occur, less car or outside damages, like buildings and signs, and parents would not be so worried for there kids to get out on the roads.