Drivers Be Aware, Think, Perform and Be Safe

To be a driver in this day and age does take certain skills and loads of practice. Even all the practice you can do really does not get you ready for what is to come on the road ahead of you as you drive from point A to point B and sometimes further. Things are needed to be done to stiffen up penalties for those who drive erratic and for those who do drive well and follow the rules can say a little more practice could and would never hurt.

Will start off with driver education. I myself feel it should still be done in high schools as well as outside of school. There should be a class while in high school to give the student a chance to learn valuable information on everything about the roads and vehicles they could be driving. Along with class there should be some on the road experience as well, so long as the student has a permit to drive. This will give the student a chance to learn and get a true feel for the road. After that there should also be an extra mandatory class outside of school too. This can brush up on what was not taught while in school along with more driving practice. With these this should assist new drivers in helping cut down with accidents on the road.

From the numbers we see every day and year there are more and more deaths due to driving. Whether it be DUI, DWI, road rage, weather related or other circumstances. To curb these numbers I feel we need tougher laws on the road. This would go forth with what we have already but take it a step further. The big thing I know and see is the use of cell phones while driving. This is a huge cause of accidents and deaths. I feel that if a person is pulled over for using a phone while driving the penalty should be a very stiff fine and major points. Also if there is someone in the vehicle with them they should receive a penalty as well, for they can tell the drive to put the phone down. Whether it would be to put the phone down or pull over and take a look then, auto manufacturers should find a way to put something in vehicles like hands off or use with voice to work with the cell phones in the world. This would keep the attention somewhat more on the road and less on looking at the screen and hands or fingers to type or hit certain buttons.

In my 3-4 years of driving, I have never been in an accident and I thank god for that. I have seen family and friends who do certain things that I do question from time to time. One would be speed. Yes you may get to where you’re going quicker but what happens if this or that happens and you lose control of the vehicle. Another is not using two hands or driving with knees or thighs. This one really gets me as a slip of the thigh or knee and the car will veer and that is an accident waiting to happen. I do ask questions to whoever is driving and most times they are nice and will go back to being sensible and drive the right and correct way. I have lost a couple friends due to DWI accidents. All I can say is if I was to be riding with someone under the influence I would ask for the keys. If not I would not ride with them for the possibility of accident and would even go so far to call the police and rat my friend out. If it means saving a life I would go forth and do it.

For myself and driving right now, I do have a tendency to speed on occasion and have been pulled over and warned by a police officer of this. That time I got pulled over really put a big scare into me and since then I have been much more careful about my speed. Other things that can be done put the cell phone down and whatever it is can wait. Most vehicles have maps installed on them so you can punch in where you want to go if that is what you are trying and looking for. I do not ride with friends much but I will let them know if something does not seem right while driving. From hands on the steering wheel to music too loud, not concentrating on the road or other things that may hinder with their ability to focus on the task at hand driving.

Overall I feel we as drivers have a duty to make sure that our roads are safe and to respectful, mindful and alert to everything going on around us. Many things that can be and should be done have been going by the wayside a lot of times. All it takes is a few of us to start and with that it should spread to others and continue which hopefully will get all us on the right track to safely driving.