Driver’s Ed: Consequences and How to Avoid Them

Driving on the road is more dangerous today than it has been in years. If cars are getting smarter and safer, why do we still see a spike in death rates? It is no coincidence that the amount of drivers who are distracted contribute to the increase in death tolls the U.S sees every year. With so many distracted drivers on the road it can be terrifying to want to drive. But don’t be. There are many ways to combat distracted driving and the consequences that may follow.

Drivers are distracted in many ways. Some drivers are distracted by drinking and driving, some by smoking, and most by cellphones. We live in a world today where everyone has technology at the tip of their fingers, and many new cars have built in systems for cellphone carplay. Carplay allows the user to have their cellphone to be directly projected to their car screen, letting them navigate their phone through the touchscreen in their car dashboard. This can be a neat feature, especially for its intended use; GPS. The problem occurs when people use it for anything but GPS. Now they have a tablet sized screen to distract them from what is happening on the road. Phone calls and text messages pop up on the screen which can be very distracting for new and experienced drivers.

Car accidents seem to be more common with the rise of new technology. Even though new technology in cars is made to prevent fatal car accidents, it can’t stop people who are too distracted to care. Seatbelts are a big issue with lots of drivers. Drivers don’t wear them because they are not comfortable or they don’t look cool. The reality is that seatbelts are designed not for fashion, but to save lives. People think they are invincible until the day comes when they aren’t. Lots of times people don’t wear seatbelts so when they do get in a crash, it turns fatal. It is very unfortunate that we sometimes don’t do the simple things to protect ourselves. It could cost us and others our lives.

There are plenty of methods to avoid these consequences too. A great way to start is by locking your phone and not answering it until you get to your destination. A 10-15min trip with a missed call from your mom is better than never getting to see her again. Newer cars often have steering wheel buttons that you can use to answer calls without taking your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. Another great method for avoiding car accidents is becoming a defensive driver. Always be on the lookout for other drivers using caution. Keeping your eyes on the lookout is a great way to see traffic around you to protect yourself while on the road. Music is great to listen to while driving; however, keeping it at the right volume is key. The volume in the car should never be too loud because you won’t be able to hear emergency vehicles approaching and you could lose focus of other drivers who share the road with you. The rock concert should be saved until you get safely home. Keeping sunglasses in the car is great, especially when the sun is out. Sunlight can easily blind drivers and make them veer. Sunglasses are an inexpensive way to protect yourself from veering into other lanes and oncoming traffic. Besides keeping yourself safe on the road, it is important to keep others safe as well. Simple things like using your blinker when turning and having your headlights on in the dark, but not your brights, are just some of the ways to keep others alert. Simple maintenance in the winter like brushing the snow off your headlights and taillights are also ways to keep other drivers safe when around you. These are steps that everyone should follow so we can keep our roads safer for everyone.

As not everyone will follow these rules and common courtesies, it is important for the ones that do to keep being a good and defensive driver. With more defensive drivers, it will be less likely that we see spikes in death tolls in motor accidents. Keeping everyone on the roads safe is not an impossible task, but one that will take hard work and dedication by all drivers. It is a group contribution even if it doesn’t seem like it. We all have to work together to keep each other safe on the roads. These tips and tricks will inspire others to become safer and better drivers, one good samaritan at a time.