Name: Anthony Joshua Nogoy Mancao Jr.
From: Irvine, California
Votes: 0
What
is Responsible Driving?
Driving
has become a daily routine in everyone’s lives. Almost everyone in
the U.S. drives a vehicle at least once a day, either for work
school, or for other reasons. Sometimes people forget the
responsibilities involved, let alone know the hidden dangers of
driving. According to driverknowledge.com, about 6 million car
accidents happen in the U.S. every year, which results in more than
90 people dying in car accidents every day. Accidents can also result
in many injuries, physical or mental, and some of those can cause
permanent injuries. Driving a vehicle comes with a lot of
responsibilities that everyone must know before they can be out on
the road on their own. It is important to get proper education to
know what to do and what not to do when driving.
Getting
a drivers ed is the most important first step to becoming a
driver. Future drivers need to understand the rules and regulations
of driving. Each state has its own rules and regulations as well, and
new drivers need to understand these before they even get behind the
wheels. What is the first thing to do once you get in the car? What
are the speed limits in different areas? What do the signs and
symbols mean? What must you do when changing lanes? What are some
things that you cannot do while driving? This information can only be
learned when you take the drivers ed. Before I started
driving, I saw a lot of these road signs and speed limits that I did
not understand. I wondered why we needed them, especially around
school areas. When I witnessed or heard of an accident happening as a
result of speeding, I realized that it is indeed important to follow
the rules of the road, especially the speed limits.
As
a young driver, there are several things that I can do to reduce the
number of accidents related to driving. The moment that I step inside
my car, the first thing that I do is to fasten my seatbelt. Wearing
seatbelts have been proven to protect one in the case of an accident.
They can also reduce the risk of injury by up to 50%. Another thing
that I do is check my visibility around the area. I need to see what
is around me because if my car has poor visibility, it can negatively
impact my driving. So I make adjustments to the side and rearview
mirrors and my seats, I make sure that all windows are clean and that
nothing is blocking my view. My dad also makes sure that my car is in
good running condition by maintaining it regularly. Checking on the
condition of your car will make sure nothing goes wrong on the road
that could potentially lead to serious accidents. Most importantly, I
make sure that nothing will distract me when I am driving. Texting
and driving is a common habit that drivers, especially teenagers like
me, like to do. It is a serious distraction that has been the cause
of many accidents on the road. To get rid of this distraction, I put
my phone on silent mode and I also put it out of my sight so I don’t
get tempted to pick it up. By doing these steps, I can focus more on
my driving, on the road and what is in front of me.
I
have never been in an accident myself, thank goodness, but I have
seen and passed by accidents on the road and have heard some on the
news. My sister, though, was in a minor accident last year. She was
rear-ended by another car while exiting from the freeway. I saw how
shaken she was after the accident. Her car was also damaged and had
to be in the shop for weeks. According to the investigation, the
accident was a result of the other driver speeding and not paying
attention to the other cars in front of him. Thank goodness it was
not a serious accident, but it still left my sister shaken, and I was
also a bit worried. It seems to me that even though my sister was
being careful, other drivers on the road who are not so careful can
also cause one to have accidents. This is why it is important to have
one’s attention on the road while driving.
As
I mentioned above, the steps that I can do to become a better and
safer driver is to first have the drivers ed to understand
the traffic rules and regulations of the road. I will always follow
the speed limits posted along the road. To avoid distracted driving,
I will put away my cell phone and turn off the ringer when I am
behind the wheels. I will make sure that my concentration is on the
road ahead of me at all times. If I get too sleepy, which sometimes
happens when we are driving long distances, then I will make sure to
stop and let someone else take the wheel. Somebody once told me that
being sleepy behind the wheel is almost the same as driving under the
influence of alcohol. I believe this is true. This can be a very
dangerous combination and can lead to accidents. I am still a minor
and not allowed to drink, but to those that drink and drive
afterward, I say stop this bad habit now before a serious accident
happens.
