Ruling the Road

You are currently stopped at a red light. Your phone is sitting on your tripod while you are re on facetime with your best friend. Your friend begins to laugh, and you are interested in knowing what is so funny. “Check your phone”, she said. You pick up your phone and instantly start laughing at the meme she sent you. You were laughing so hard that you began to unintentionally ease off the brakes. The car begins to roll and you do not realize until… your car is crashed into the passenger side of another vehicle. All it took was one meme, one good laugh, one minute, to distract you from the number one task in front you, being a responsible driver. As adults, we have allowed ourselves to adapt bad habits while driving that divert our attention away from the road ahead of us. Talking on the phone, looking through memes, and checking your text messages are all things we can admit to doing at least once while driving and these are things that put us and others at risk on the road.

It is important that every person who has or will obtain a driver’s license, takes time to educate themselves on the rules of the road. Those who take some kind of driver’s ed course or training are less likely to be involved in a car accident. Educating yourself about the road can prevent accidents, positively impact your confidence, and keep insurance costs low. Understanding the rules of driving, traffic signals, lane usage, and more can impact one’s confidence while driving. Also, driver’s ed courses teach students more on top of the rules of the road. One will be more likely to understand how exactly their car works and even diagnosing it if any issues occur. These courses help students get to know how the car they are using functions, what the dashboard lights mean, and even how to change a tire. Applying the rules that you have learned from a class to your actual driving on the road, not only increases the level of your safety, but also those around you. Additionally, many insurance companies offer discounts for individuals who have completed a driver’s ed course which an make a huge difference in how much one pays for insurance monthly.

My biggest distraction is texting when driving. Have you ever looked up from your phone while driving and realize you are drifting into another lane? Or maybe you were looking so deep into your phone at a red light and did not realize the light turned green. We must rid ourselves of these distractions. I know, it may be tempting to check your phone when you receive a notification, but imagine the major damage that can occur by you taking one quick glance off the road. Imagine how one car accident can drastically change your life. Maybe now you have to buy a new car, or pay $200 more each month in insurance, or maybe even negatively impact your ability to drive. There is so much unpredictable consequences that can and may occur if you neglect the rules of the road

As a society, we need to collectively act towards ending distracted driving and I encourage us to take the following steps when driving. First, turn off your ringer while driving. You are less likely to be distracted by notifications on your phone if you do not know they are there. I know, you’re probably thinking, “but what if it’s important?”. While driving, nothing is more important than staying in your lane and obeying traffic signals. You can answer that text and return that call once you are safely parked at your destination. Aside from using a phone while driving, other bad driving habits include getting dressed and eating. Try to complete all your hygiene and personal grooming prior to putting that gear in drive. Taking your eyes off the road to look in your mirror to fix your hair is extremely dangerous and should be avoided. Also, eating while driving can be very tempting. You smell your food while sitting in the passenger seat and you just want to reach over and get a French fry, but don’t. The food will still be there when you get to your destination.

We must direct our full attention to driving to ensure our safety and others’ safety on the road. It is our personal responsibility as drivers to take the initiative to learn the rules and regulations associated with the road.