Driving Safety

Driving is the most common way for traveling from point A to point B. While traveling in a car is known to be quite common, quick and easy, it is also important to know that driving can also be quite dangerous. Hundreds of car accidents happen a day and thousands of car accidents occur monthly. Millions of people die from car accidents due to drunk driving, texting while driving, being in a rush, or simply being lazy with not taking the necessary precautions for keeping everyone including themselves safe while operating a vehicle.

The main causes for car accidents are distracted driving, driving over the speed limit, driving while under the influence, aggressive driving or road rage, driving in the rain, tailgating and beyond more.

To ensure everyone’s safety, everyone should revert back to the basics of original driving by the book. Staying 3 seconds behind every car, being patient with other drivers, knowing how fast to drive when necessary. When it comes to distracted driving, drivers need to limit all distractions by using cell phones only when it comes to navigation and emergency situations only. A way to help drivers not be tempted to use cell phones would be to purchase a cell phone mount. The person would be able to use the phone hands free by voice recognition. When all goes wrong and voice recognition isn’t successful, the driver must be sure to pull over on the side of the road where no drivers are in danger of a crash. Even if there is no one in front of you, there could always be someone behind or beside you when you least expect it. When it comes to driving over the speed limit, everyone should be sure to drive at the speed limit, not below it, to avoid road rage. Driving under the influence is 100% wrong and should never be practiced. For the simple reason that anyone who would do such a thing is selfish. Not only to other drivers, but to countless other pedestrians that are walking on the side of the road, or the pedestrians that attempt to cross the road.

In driving, anything is possible, which is why it’s important to take everything seriously one step at a time. Being lazy shouldn’t be considered while operating a vehicle at any time, nor should it be acceptable. Driving requires laser focus so that the driver is aware of everything going on with the road. A new driver must be hypervigilant so that they are aware of road conditions at all times. With more experience, there is a calm to the anxiety that comes with the hypervigilance; but that morphs into an appreciation of the sheer power of the vehicle.

For new drivers, driving can be a daunting undertaking. New drivers need to learn to be mindful of these things, practically all at the same time:

• A driver must look 5 seconds down the road in order to see that aggressive driver weaving in and out of traffic;

• A driver must glance in the rear view mirror in order to notice the speed racer coming up rapidly from the rear, who will cause an accident if the driver brakes even a little bit;

• A driver must use the side mirrors constantly to monitor cars that may be lurking in the blind spots

• A driver must check, and double check, when changing lanes; and be mindful of other cars who may be having their own highway unsanctioned race at the same time.

My personal experiences with car accidents have not been very friendly. I have been blessed and lucky to walk away injury-free from a total of three accidents. Two head-on collisions and a full speed rear-end collision. All were the other driver’s fault. Two of the accidents totaled the cars that we were driving. Two of the drivers were under the influence of marijuana, which falls under one of the reasons why there are so many car accidents everyday. To make matters worse, one of the drivers hit us and ran, while under the influence!

The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to car crashes are remembering to fasten your seatbelt, driving at or under the speed limit, giving other drivers the right of way, and staying patient. Being the better and safer driver will help you, your family, and others arrive alive. That should always be the end goal. This can be achieved when everyone does their part with doing the little things, little by little, by not taking the easy way out, but doing everything by the fundamentals of driving.