Understanding the Importance of Safe driving

Each year in America, thousands of people lose their lives in car accidents, making driving education more and more important. Even if you or someone you know have not been directly affected by unsafe driving or a victim of a car crash, it is each individual’s responsibility to bring the number of fatal car crashes down. I am a resident of Texas and in this state alone we have had 1,426 deaths on our roads in the last year. This hits home and I do not want me or anyone else to be apart of this substantial number. These statistics exemplify how Americans and even Texans must begin to prioritize safe driving at all times.

We can all start by taking driver education more seriously and make sure new drivers understand how important safe driving is. In the classes we take as teenagers to receive a driver’s license and in defensive driving classes some adults must take after receiving a speeding ticket, it specifies what we must do to keep our roads safe and avoid these fatal accidents. Not driving under the influence, or while tired, adjusting our mirrors, making sure our tires and car are both functional, using signals on the road, driving the speed limit, and understanding road signs are just a few of the steps we should be taking as responsible drivers to help reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. I have been driving for over 6 years and I am aware of how meniscal some of these steps are, but I think we all forget how dangerous driving can truly be which makes even the little things critical when driving vehicles on the road.

I am fortunate enough to have never been a victim of unsafe driving or lose anyone in a car crash, but I have seen many of my peers demonstrate unsafe driving. It was mainly in High School, and it was very apparent that these were new drivers and they were more excited to have the luxury of driving a vehicle instead of prioritizing what they just learned in their driving course. I was young at the time, and still in the process of getting a driver’s license so I didn’t go out of my way to speak up like I should have. They would race in parking lots, run stop signs, and speed, which not only put their lives in danger, but also the lives of other drivers on the road. This is why it is so important for the younger generations that are just learning to drive to recognize that we cannot be selfish on the road and apply the steps to safe driving at all times. It is equally important for everyone, even beginners, to feel confident enough to confront someone when they see they are driving in a reckless manner.

I have noticed myself in recent months forgetting to use my signals when merging lanes or driving when I am extremely tired, both very unsafe driving practices. I have acknowledged my faults and now must reapply what I know about being a safe driver on a daily basis. I need to start by prioritizing sleep to avoid driving while tired, as well as keeping driving signals in the forefront of my mind so I can remember how important it is to use them on the road. Driving while tired can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence because of how it can impair vision or motor skills, and avoiding the use of turn signals can cause me to crash into someone in the lane next to me that wasn’t aware I was getting over. I know I would never want to be a victim of a fatal car crash and definitely would never want to hurt someone driving on the road with me. Taking the responsibility to educate my friends and family on why safe driving is so important is where I begin to help others avoid car accidents or even tickets. Once they understand how critical this is, they will begin to tell others, starting a ripple effect of people educating their peers, families, or friends on how to keep our roads safe.

It is every single driver’s responsibility to reduce the number of deaths on the road; not just mine and not just yours. The steps we must take are not useless, they are helpful, and it is best to apply them now before it is too late. No one wants to be a victim of a car accident, and no one wants their family members to be victims of car accidents, so we must drive safely each and every single day.