Driver’s Safety

I sit in the back seat of the car, as my mom drives my sister and me to store. We are on the same roads we always drive. We can drive this route easily because we know every turn, every traffic stop, and sign. I feel at ease, engaged in conversation. To my surprise, the car stops abruptly. I jerk forward; my momentum halted by the seat belt across my lap and chest. My eyes are wide as I look up and see a deer dart in front of the car. We come to a stop about an inch from the deer, and he runs off. This accident is thankfully averted; everyone is safe and a strong lesson about driving is learned through this experience.

What could have been a car to deer collision was avoided due to responsible driving. The deer was running fast toward the front of the car. It would only have taken a second long distraction to change the outcome. A simple turn of the head, a look down to play with the radio, or look at a phone. Any simple, distractive behavior could have had dire results.

Drivers’ education teaches drivers how to take safety measures. It teaches the rules of the road. Drivers’ education teaches people how to change lanes safely, understand and follow signs, signal correctly, use the car functions such as mirrors, blinkers, lights, and brakes. The benefits of drivers’ education include, but are not limited to, learning the steps you can take to lessen accidents, become a confident driver, appropriately maintain your car for safety, follow traffic rules, follow laws to avoid tickets, and how to handle dangerous situations.

There were certain steps taken to avoid the accident with the deer. These steps are taught at Drivers education classes and put into practice through driving experience and actively being a defensive driver. A driver must be aware of surroundings, focus attention on driving without distraction, use quick reflexes, and follow safety rules such as wearing seatbelts. All of these steps were key elements to avoid hitting the deer.

There are some basic safety precautions I always use while driving to avoid accidents, injury or death.

1. Do not use a cell phone while driving. A cell phone is a distraction that takes your eyes off the road. Taking your eyes off the road can lead to not stopping fast enough to avoid an obstruction, swerving or being unaware of your position on the road, or not taking notice of road signs or warnings, resulting in an accident.

2. Wear a seatbelt. In the unfortunate case that your car is in an accident, the seat belt is a safety device that can prevent injury or death. It is required by law and is strictly enforced.

3. Educate yourself on use of brakes in different weather conditions. The car responds to water and ice differently. It is imperative to know how to use the car and its features to try to avoid accidents such as hydroplaning or skidding.

4. Be aware of surroundings. It is important to be aware of other drivers or civilians. A child on a bike, workers on the road, or other vehicles can be the catalyst for a mistake that causes a terrible, and sometimes deadly, accident. A driver can not assume that others are going to do the right or safe thing. To avoid a tragic circumstance, drivers must be aware of other’s actions.

5. Do not drink and drive or get in a car with a person under the influence. Not only is this against the law it is the cause of many car accidents and deaths.

6. Drive at a safe distance from other cars on the road. The distance between the car in front of you can mean the difference between life, death, or injury. A quick stop can cause damage to the cars and people in front or you, your elf, and/or the cars behind you. There should be enough space to have time to make a quick decision and act on it.

Taking drivers/education, adhering to traffic laws, and being alert are some of the best ways to stay safe while driving a vehicle. It is in everyone’s best interest and safety to learn the rules of the road, the functions of the car, car maintenance, and the steps to being a defensive driver. It is this knowledge that can keep you and others safe and help to prevent injury or death. It is strongly recommended that drivers’ education courses are taken to make the roads a safer place.