Driving is one of the deadliest activities in our country. It is estimated that 34,000 people die in driving accidents every year in America. Very few people want to face these statistics because it’s terrifying. Many Americans sit behind the driver’s seat daily to get to work, school, and other activities. With danger at every turn, every single driver must know the rules of the road and other tactics to drive safely.
One of the ways we can reduce the number of deaths from driving is through education. Thousands of high school students take driver’s education classes to get their license. However, the numbers are decreasing as teens wait until they turn 18 and are no longer required to take this course. I find this concerning because driver’s education is about more than just knowing the rules. It is essential to have hours on the road practicing under the watchful eye of a teacher or a parent. More experienced drivers have a lot of knowledge and wisdom that younger drivers can benefit from. Drivers need to know more than the meaning of traffic signs and spend time practicing behind the wheel.
Another hindrance to safe driving is our phones. Especially my generation, who has never known life apart from mobile phones, has a strong temptation to use our phones while we drive. Once we feel comfortable with the rules of the road, it is difficult to leave our devices alone. While it feels like a glance at our screen won’t hurt anything, this is extremely dangerous. Any time we take our attention off the road, we put ourselves in danger of injury and even death. We all need to do better at prioritizing safety over our notifications. Whether that means placing our phone out of reach or turning off notifications, this is a step we can take toward being safer drivers.
The next step to becoming safer drivers is to follow the law. Teenagers and young adults are notorious for speeding and irresponsible driving. Simple things such as using your turn signal and following the speed limit will help you be a safer driver and keep the roads safe for others. Serious threats like texting while driving or driving while intoxicated must be eliminated entirely. Driving laws exist to keep us safe. Let’s commit to following them.
A final step to being a safe driver is to not let yourself get distracted by passengers. We all love driving with our friends, jamming to our favorite music, and laughing at inside jokes. But getting distracted by passengers removes your attention from the road and can be dangerous -- even deadly. This step also applies when you are a passenger. When you are riding with someone, it is okay to have fun. Just don’t take the driver’s attention away from the road.
While I have never been in a car accident, I know several individuals who have. These accidents endangered their lives and changed how they drove from then on. Rather than risking our safety by being in an accident and then deciding to drive more carefully, let’s make the decision right now to be safe drivers in order to prevent accidents and injuries.
Personally, I was scared to drive at first because of the danger. It took hours of experience on the road with my parents before I felt confident in my driving ability. Driving is a great skill to have. Whether you use it to get to work, school, or fun activities, driving can help us be independent, responsible citizens. But driving is also a huge responsibility. We should not get into the driver’s seat lightly. We are taking our lives, and often the lives of others, into our hands.
To become a better driver, I must prioritize safety over arriving on time. When I’m in a rush, it is difficult to make safe decisions on the road. I also need to implement the habit of silencing my phone while driving. I can encourage others to be better and safer drivers by reminding them to stay off their phones and be careful to avoid distracting the driver.
Driving can be dangerous; there is no way around it. But it is also a helpful -- even necessary -- skill. If handled responsibly, it can expand our opportunities and independence. Let’s all decide to be safe, responsible drivers in order to protect ourselves and others. Get educated before you drive, ignore your phone while driving, follow the law, and be careful not to get distracted. If we work together, we can make our roads a much safer place.
One of the ways we can reduce the number of deaths from driving is through education. Thousands of high school students take driver’s education classes to get their license. However, the numbers are decreasing as teens wait until they turn 18 and are no longer required to take this course. I find this concerning because driver’s education is about more than just knowing the rules. It is essential to have hours on the road practicing under the watchful eye of a teacher or a parent. More experienced drivers have a lot of knowledge and wisdom that younger drivers can benefit from. Drivers need to know more than the meaning of traffic signs and spend time practicing behind the wheel.
Another hindrance to safe driving is our phones. Especially my generation, who has never known life apart from mobile phones, has a strong temptation to use our phones while we drive. Once we feel comfortable with the rules of the road, it is difficult to leave our devices alone. While it feels like a glance at our screen won’t hurt anything, this is extremely dangerous. Any time we take our attention off the road, we put ourselves in danger of injury and even death. We all need to do better at prioritizing safety over our notifications. Whether that means placing our phone out of reach or turning off notifications, this is a step we can take toward being safer drivers.
The next step to becoming safer drivers is to follow the law. Teenagers and young adults are notorious for speeding and irresponsible driving. Simple things such as using your turn signal and following the speed limit will help you be a safer driver and keep the roads safe for others. Serious threats like texting while driving or driving while intoxicated must be eliminated entirely. Driving laws exist to keep us safe. Let’s commit to following them.
A final step to being a safe driver is to not let yourself get distracted by passengers. We all love driving with our friends, jamming to our favorite music, and laughing at inside jokes. But getting distracted by passengers removes your attention from the road and can be dangerous -- even deadly. This step also applies when you are a passenger. When you are riding with someone, it is okay to have fun. Just don’t take the driver’s attention away from the road.
While I have never been in a car accident, I know several individuals who have. These accidents endangered their lives and changed how they drove from then on. Rather than risking our safety by being in an accident and then deciding to drive more carefully, let’s make the decision right now to be safe drivers in order to prevent accidents and injuries.
Personally, I was scared to drive at first because of the danger. It took hours of experience on the road with my parents before I felt confident in my driving ability. Driving is a great skill to have. Whether you use it to get to work, school, or fun activities, driving can help us be independent, responsible citizens. But driving is also a huge responsibility. We should not get into the driver’s seat lightly. We are taking our lives, and often the lives of others, into our hands.
To become a better driver, I must prioritize safety over arriving on time. When I’m in a rush, it is difficult to make safe decisions on the road. I also need to implement the habit of silencing my phone while driving. I can encourage others to be better and safer drivers by reminding them to stay off their phones and be careful to avoid distracting the driver.
Driving can be dangerous; there is no way around it. But it is also a helpful -- even necessary -- skill. If handled responsibly, it can expand our opportunities and independence. Let’s all decide to be safe, responsible drivers in order to protect ourselves and others. Get educated before you drive, ignore your phone while driving, follow the law, and be careful not to get distracted. If we work together, we can make our roads a much safer place.
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