Be safe, It’s Not a Race
A poem about driving
To a kid a car equals freedom
And I could agree with him.
Put the keys in the ignition
Hear the fire up of the ignition.
Push the gas pedal under your feet
Cruising carelessly down the street.
Music up, windows down,
Take the scenic route around town.

What’s on your mind when you have your hands on the wheel?
Your destination, song lyrics, but not the safety of driving an automobile.
Follow all the road rules, pay close attention
Don't be distracted, to help with car wreck prevention.
Too many people die each year from little mistakes.
It’s okay to use your breaks.
A blinker is used to tell surrounding people your intentions,
That way there is no confusion about your direction.
Put the phone away so it's out of your sight.
Make sure you get home safely tonight.
Keep your eyes on the road.
Don’t go into auto-pilot mode.
Remember to always wear your seat belt wherever you go
Even if you think it’s uncool, just remember you aren’t putting on a show.
Never drive when you are under the influence,
to prevent the issue of drunk driving that is continuous.
If you are feeling drowsy, music and AC won't be effective
Take some time to rest so that you can have a better driving perspective.


It’s important to teach your loved ones proper safety when driving.
Nobody should have to be on the roads worrying about surviving.
When you say goodbye to someone, it should never be the last.
It’s important to follow the speed limit because it's dangerous if you go too fast.
There are many simple things we can do to make the road safer.
And it is better to start practicing these rules now rather than later.

We have all heard the saying “don’t be a backseat driver”
However, for everyone's safety it’s okay to be a supervisor.
Don’t be afraid to offer some advice
Because it could be the difference in another driver's life.

I had to drive across the country,
and after hours it was easy to become sleepy.
To ensure the safety of myself and others,
I pulled over and switched driving with my sister and brother.
Being extra cautious while we were hauling a horse trailer.
To prevent any mistakes we would regret later.
It took us five days of driving to arrive at our location.
While that might have been slow, it was safe transportation.
Between the three of us, one was driving, the other was directing, and the last rested.
This method proved to be very effective.
There were times when we had to park and take a moment to recoup.
I found it a lot easier to make the trip together as a group.
There were moments that were unfamiliar, difficult, and strenuous
But we took turns and because of that we were able to drive on continuous.
Sometimes one of us would make a mistake
And we could calmly tell the other some slight changes they could make.
One night it was raining pretty heavy,
making it harder to see on top of it being dark already.
There was a moment the truck hydroplaned.
My brother was fairly new to driving so we had to explain
there are ways to prevent the wheels from sliding.
In that brief moment of alarm, it was important to stay calm and prevent any fighting.
During our road trip, it was essential to effectively communicate.
There were times my eyes got heavy, and instead of pushing through it I had to pull over and wait.
We drove across the country not once but twice.
Thank goodness our parents taught us how to drive smart and be wise.
I will admit it tested our abilities.
But we handled the situation responsibly.
In this case it was good to have a “back seat driver” to keep us alert
It was very effective and for us it worked.

There have been times when I have been out with friends joy riding
And to be incredibly frank, it was terrifying.
On country back roads, driving in the wrong lane.
I told them all that they were insane.
The driver yelled at me to take the wheel while he ate his lunch
I panicked but did what I was told with a grudge.
“This isn't Mario Kart!” I would yell over the music.
They would come back with, “But isn’t it therapeutic?”
Teenagers are reckless and believe they have more than one life.
I wasn't afraid to speak up and voice my mind when what they were doing could cause a lot of damage in my eyes.
I hoped and prayed they wouldn’t get into too much trouble.
And now years later, I hope they are grown up and more responsible.
Never be afraid to show you care by teaching others to be safe.
A life is something that can't be replaced.


It is tragic the amount of people that pass away each year from car accidents.
Following driver safety can ensure that you aren’t one of those incidents.
Next time you are behind the wheel
Remember those who suffered from a car wreck loss and are still trying to heal.
Teach those around you how to be safe.
Don’t be afraid to stand up for what’s right and remember… Driving is not a race.