It’s Not Just Your Safety, It’s Everyone’s

Being a safe driver
is the cornerstone of having safer roads. It all starts with the
person behind the wheel. We all start out as 15 year olds ready and
eager to start off our driving careers; we read through the rules and
regulations, memorizing them so that we may pass our test. After we
pass then we drive with adults and eventually work our way up to
being 16 and taking the driving test itself. But, once we get our
license many of us immediately forget what we worked so hard
memorizing. Unfortunately bad drivers are in abundance because people
stop caring about the minute rules and recommendations driving
pamphlets or classes teach because it just is too much work. We
passed the test right? Doesn’t that mean we can be a little more
loose with how we drive? No. It does not. In fact, after passing the
test that’s when it becomes most important to be responsible and
not forget what we learned to be able to drive. There’s a reason
there are tests in place before a person can drive. It is a huge
responsibility to be a driver; you have to watch out for your safety,
the safety of the people in the car with you, the safety of other
drivers on the road, and the safety of pedestrians. However, many
people choose to pay less attention and end up not being responsible.
Distracted driving/ irresponsible driving causes so many deaths every
year and it’s all the more tragic because it can just be solved if
people took the time to educate themselves on rules, regulations, and
recommendations. Things like driving four seconds behind someone,
obeying the speed limit, watching out for pedestrians, and not
tailgating could stop so many deaths. Obviously it’s impossible to
stop all driving related deaths but what is possible is to get it
into drivers heads that being responsible and staying educated on the
rules of driving is much better than shirking rules to look cool or
have a better time while driving. Driving doesn’t have to be
stressful but it’s much better to be slightly more aware on the
roads and save someone’s life than to not pay attention and
accidentally cause a fatality. Drivers need to go the speed limit,
pay attention on the roads and be aware of their surroundings, keep a
safe distance from cars, not give into aggressions or irresponsible
challenges (like racing), always yield to pedestrians even if they
are not following the rules, and always follow the law. I have seen
for myself the dangers of being a little too aggressive or self
righteous on the roads as one time my father got into a car crash
because of this. He and another person were going, my father had the
right of way but the other car went; however, in a bad decision my
father went as well because he had the right of way and wanted to
beat this guy. He ended up colliding with the truck and the entire
back of our car was smashed and he had to go to physical therapy for
months. This taught me that pride and ego can get in the way of
safety as well so even if I am mad or know the other driver is being
irresponible I can’t stoop down to that level, I have to be the
responsible one and look out for my safety and the safety of others
on the road. Being less prideful and knowing the rules are in place
for a reason as well as following them because you know it can be the
difference between life and death is the best and only way to drive
safely.