The Dangers of Driving

Each
year, a staggering 34,000 Americans die due to driving. This
statistic is worrying, yet few realize how dangerous driving truly
is. This lack of knowledge emphasizes the dire need for driver’s
education in preventing future deaths. Through drivers ed,
students will learn about the serious dangers associated with
driving, and the precautions they should take to avoid such
incidents. Drivers ed will teach the best practices for
staying safe on the road, helping drivers to stay as safe as
possible. Having this knowledge before and during training will help
to decrease the amount of deaths caused by driving, as people realize
the risks associated with vehicles. 

Along
with drivers ed, steps like laws against distracted driving
and renewing permits could be taken to reduce the number of deaths
related to driving. For example, PENNDOT’s Texting-While-Driving
ban helps to decrease the number of distracted drivers by issuing a
fine to anyone caught disobeying this law. Another method for
decreasing driving deaths would be to have all drivers retake their
permit test periodically. This would ensure that people remember the
rules of the road, which would help in preventing accidents.

 I
personally have never been in a car crash, but there have been
incidents in which I have come close due to other people’s
distracted driving. One such example was fairly recent. We had just
reached an intersection when we heard the blaring siren of an
ambulance. A separate driver was not paying attention to the siren,
and crossed the intersection. The ambulance swerved and barely
avoided smashing into the other driver. If the driver had been paying
attention, they would have heard the siren, and waited to cross until
the ambulance had safely passed. 

There
are multiple steps that I could take to be a better and safer driver,
as well as help others become safer on the road. One such tactic
would be to turn off all phone notifications while behind the wheel.
This would help minimize a driver’s temptation to check their phone
while driving. This is an incredibly simple way to protect yourself
and others, as Apple phones have a setting that blocks texts while
you are operating a vehicle. Another such way to be safer while
driving is to always be on the defensive. Before proceeding through
an intersection, check to make sure your path is clear, and that
other drivers are obeying the rules of the road. Also, make sure to
always signal before a turn, and abide by the speed limit. Such
simple actions can truly save a person’s life.