The Privileges of Driving

Safe driving techniques, as taught in defensive driving courses across the country, are methods that one can do to avoid most risky situations and prepare oneself to properly handle those that do arise. It is very important to make sure that you are driving safely on the road at all times and being aware that others will not follow all the rules on the road as well. Safe driving is all about managing the risk that comes from driving out on the roads. Driving comes with a lot of responsibility, which is the main reason the ability is a privilege. Roads dealt with unforeseen dangers and conditions can put yourself and others in a lethal outcome. In being a safe driver one must learn to anticipate these events in addition to having the skills necessary to counter or mitigate damage should they occur.

One of the biggest issues that cause death when driving today is distracted driving. Distracted driving is very dangerous to everyone on the road. Distracted driving is engaging in non-driving activities such as texting, talking on the phone, eating, and many more distractions can cause the death of you and others when driving on the road. In 2015, 3,477 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver (CDC). Each year about 421,000 people are injured in crashes involving a distracted driver. Drivers would not be texting if their message was not very important. Distracted driving should be prohibited and illegal and security devices in vehicles should be implemented in order to save the lives and prevent the death of drivers. I really find driving safety important because it’s a stage in life that a huge percentage of humans will pursue. We need to make sure that when people are driving on the road, that they are being safe, mindful, and defensive at all times. If we can create an environment like this in our society then we will save the lives of thousands of drivers all over the world.

The importance of driving education is important because It can prevent a lot of deaths that are happening. When driving on the road, It is important to know the rules and policies when driving on the road. It is not important just for the benefit of your safety but it is also very important for other people on the road. A lot of teenagers these days are driving without permits or little to no knowledge about how to drive safely on the road. This is a problem because most times when you don’t know how to drive on the road, you are more likely to cause or get into a car accident. More than 46,000 people die in car crashes each year, according to Annual United States Road Crash Statistics (ASIRT). The U.S. traffic fatality rate is 12.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. It is very tragic to know that there are that many deaths due to driving on the road. Driver education is very important and if it becomes more of a requirement to learn driver education before driving on the road, we can make a big change in our driving community.

In addition to devastation from loss of life, car accident deaths also cause considerable economic loss to individuals, families and countries. The person who reports these financial losses are related to the cost of medical treatment related to injury, lost productivity for those who are disabled or killed by their injuries and for family members who take time off of work or school due to caregiving or grief. Deaths from car accidents ultimately cost most countries 3 percent of their gross domestic product. So not only does death affect us but it affects the economy as well.

A couple months ago, I was in school going about my regular day and I was called down to the main office. I went downstairs to figure out why I was called down to the office and the lady at the front desk told me someone had called the school to get in contact with me. It was my mother, she was calling to tell me that my brother and my father had gotten into a fatal car accident. At that moment, my heart dropped to the floor and I couldn’t breathe. I was picked up from school and driven to the hospital where my brother and my father were. Although they were okay, they still were affected physically and mentally. This was a very scary moment for me, especially because I never would have expected to receive a phone call like that. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost my father and my brother. I was very emotional during this time and even after the incident, I was affected by this incident. I was really scared at that moment and I don’t ever want to feel that feeling again, nor do I want to experience being in a car crash like that. After experiencing a serious car accident that involved my father and my brother. This just shows me more and more of how important it is to be defensive and mindful on the road. Driving safety is very important to me and I want to be able to make a change in our society for the greater good.

I believe that I can take multiple steps to improve my driving and decrease the possibilities of me getting into a car accident and harming others on the road. In order to take these steps, I will have to commit to following the rules of the road and becoming more mindful of others on the road. I need to be able to end the habit of being distracted while driving on the road, even if the car is not moving at a red light because that can still cause an accident to happen. Distracted driving is very dangerous to myself and others and the habit needs to end immediately. I will continue to help myself and others become safer drivers on the road and be more aware of others when driving on the road. Driving is very important and it is a privilege. If you betray this privilege and abuse the responsibility of driving, It can put yourself and others in great harm.