Safe Driving

When I think of what it means to be a “safe driver,” I not only think of someone who has completed the legal requirements, such as: Earning a permit, completing the required hours behind the wheel with a licensed professional, or passing the driver’s license exam… I also think that being a safe driver is all about being aware at all times and respecting one’s own life, as well as the lives of the other people. Ultimately, I believe that safe driving can be achieved by being alert to and following the traffic laws and making good choices.

There are many reasons a person may get into a car accident, however, most of these instances probably occur due to distractions, or becoming a “distracted driver.” Maybe someone is driving alone or they are driving with a friend, family member, or maybe even multiple other passengers. When the driver becomes distracted (which easily occurs), anything can happen—maybe something slight, or maybe something detrimental.

I have never been in a serious car accident or witnessed one, but I have nearly rear ended another vehicle due to texting and driving. Thankfully, at the last second, I looked up from my phone and I slammed on my car’s breaks and I did not rear end them. My heart sank to my stomach and I was so terrified by the reality that I almost ran into someone and something terrible could’ve happened due to texting while driving.

The fact that Wikipedia, an online database states, “There were an average of 34,000 deaths due to driving in 2012 alone, while there were 47,424 deaths in the Vietnam War,” (2022) is bewildering. Death due a car accident is a very real issue, and car accidents don’t only occur due to being under the influence…car accidents can happen to anyone at any second.

Another instance I have experienced while driving…a friend of mine and I were driving on a highway going the speed limit, which was 70 mph. We had just gone through Taco John’s and we were eating while she was driving. She was multitasking to the max and it made me think (which her and I then discussed and agreed) that driving is truly one of the most dangerous things that humans do.

Driving requires the driver to be alert and oriented the whole time while driving. Not only to what is happening within the vehicle, but also to what is going on outside of the vehicle, including: Other drivers, people on the sidewalk, animals crossing, the weather conditions, etc. there are many variable at every moment that cannot be predicted that the driver must be alert to.

When a driver is aware of safe, driving education and that “safe driving” isn’t just about the person who is driving, but that driver safety also involves being aware of every person, people can then eliminate unnecessary distractions from their perspective while driving, and realize that driving requires one’s full attention, all of the time. Choosing to eliminate the distractions may reduce driving fatalities.

For me, I set up my vehicle’s Bluetooth to my phone before I begin driving so that way, I do not have to look at my phone to change the music—I can easily click a button on my steering wheel, which also allows any phone calls to come through my car (if someone should call) without taking my eyes off of the road.

Another thing that I do, when I get the feeling to check my phone for any notifications while driving, is I immediately remind myself how dangerous texting and driving is. That I could literally kill myself or someone else…all for a text. A text, to me, is not worth such the risk and I will immediately put my phone down with ease. This is a great tip to keep in mind while driving!

Whatever a person’s “distraction” is while driving, they need to develop a mental plan on how they can realistically eliminate the distraction (if the distraction is within their control). Perhaps, a person may develop a personal affirmation that they can automatically think of when they are in the moment or acting on the particular distraction that they know is not safe for them or others. This “personal affirmation” can then get them back on track and doing the safe thing,

“Texting and driving is not worth dying over,” for example. It works for me every time.

Sometimes, I get anxiety while driving, especially when I am driving the speed limit but the vehicle behind me wants me to drive faster. This used to bother me, but I’ve learned that it’s okay if the driver behind me want to follow me closely, or if people in front of me don’t use their blinker, or whatever the thing is…because I am going to follow the traffic laws even if other people are not.

I choose to follow the traffic laws because they are meant to keep the driver (and the passengers) safe. I have realized this for myself, and I hope that other people choose to follow the laws for their personal safety, as well, and have the ability to recognize that driving is the most dangerous thing that we do every day. But with safe driving education, we can reduce the number of casualties every year due to car accidents.