Five Steps to Driving Safer

Driver education is imperative in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. It provides the basic fundamentals of rules of the road that keep traffic flowing smoothly. For example, an educated driver on a highway knows to get in the left lane when a car is pulled over on the right shoulder to create a safe distance between the parked car and the driver’s moving vehicle. An uneducated driver, likely not aware of this rule, might remain in the right lane while passing the pulled over car. If a person or police officer is standing near the pulled over car, the driver in the right lane is much more likely to collide with the pulled over car, or worse, seriously injure or kill the person standing near the pulled over car. Drivers who are educated about the rules of the road have a mutual understanding of the way traffic should flow, which avoids collisions and injuries.

Additional steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include (1) PAY ATTENTION to the road, be careful to notice and avoid objects in the road, pedestrians, or weather conditions that make the pavement slick; (2) AVOID DISTRACTIONS like cell phones, dashboard controls, eating in the car or allowing passengers to divert your attention from the road; (3) BE PATIENT and wait your turn. If everyone is in a hurry attempting to cut each other off to get to the front of the line, it will inevitably cause tensions to rise and feelings of anger to develop. Vehicle collisions or physical altercations will result when tempers flare, potentially causing harm or death that could have easily been avoided with patience and common courtesy; (4) SLOW DOWN. Probably one of the best ways to avoid causing the death of another with your vehicle is to slow your speed. Not only does speed reduction give you more time to anticipate changes in traffic patterns or roadways, your slower speed will also exponentially reduce the seriousness of injuries, or even avoid the death of another if you happen to be involved in a collision; (5) KEEP YOUR VEHICLE IN GOOD CONDITION. If your car unexpectedly breaks down while travelling you will be forced to pull over, creating an obstacle in or alongside the roadway that other drivers must be careful to avoid.

I once experienced a driver on the interstate highway pass between our car in the left lane and another car next to us in the right lane. He was speeding and too impatient to wait until a safe passing space was created in the left lane, so he drove right between us! My mom was driving our car and fortunately she didn’t panic. She was able to maintain control of our car and avoid a collision. The irresponsible driver could have easily killed everyone in both cars, and himself too. This taught me to always pay attention to how other people are driving and drive defensively.

I now keep a close eye out for other drivers who are ignoring the rules of road and I avoid them. Some of the steps I take to be a better driver include staying off the roads in bad weather conditions. I drive a pickup truck, so I could probably travel rather easily in bad weather, but I try to stay off the roads out of respect for police officers, truck drivers and others who have no choice but to be on the road. If more people would be mindful of the safety of others in these conditions there would be fewer deadly accidents in wintry or stormy conditions. I also refuse to ride in a car driven by anyone who might be impaired. Impaired driving, or driving under the influence of controlled substances, is such an avoidable cause of deadly automobile accidents. I feel very strongly about not getting behind the wheel or riding along if I suspect the driver has ingested anything that might impair his or her driving. This is not only because I want to protect myself, but also because I don’t want anyone else to be injured as a result of the driver’s poor choices.

Driving is a privilege. I am grateful for the laws and enforcement techniques in place to keep those who refuse to respect the rules of the road from continuing to drive carelessly. The ticketing system utilized by law enforcement is a known deterrent for reckless driving. If a driver’s behavior is egregious enough, the use of jail time serves the purpose of keeping them off the road and punishing them in an effort to discourage future misbehavior. I respect these rules and laws, and I feel safer on the road knowing they are in place for my protection and the protection of others. I have no doubt many deaths have been avoided by having rules of the road in place.