Driving Safety

Driving is a part of our everyday life. Considering how much the average person drives we should all be aware of driving safety and the rules of the road. There are many rules in place in an attempt to insure our safety on the road. It is the driver’s responsibility to be aware of the importance of driver safety, being informed of the fatalities and the steps we should take to become better educated drivers.

The importance of drivers ed is to inform and educate about road safety. Drivers ed is very important in helping us learn the laws that will keep us safe. Drivers ed is required in many states before receiving your driver’s license. The importance of drivers ed is to give us the knowledge, and skills, needed for the safety of drivers, and pedestrians. There has been a study that followed more than 150,000 teen drivers in over 8 years and has found that drivers ed has dramatically reduced car accidents and traffic violations among new drivers. Drivers who have not completed drivers ed are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket and 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal injury accident. About 53 percent of teens took a state approved drivers ed course to qualify for their permit.

Some people may question the steps that you should take in order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. There are simple steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of death related car accidents. One of the most important steps is to not drink and drive. Drunk driving impairs judgment and slows the reaction time. In 2012 drunk driving has taken 10,000 lives. Drunken driving car accidents cost more than $37 billion a year. Another factor of car accident deaths is distracted driving. Distracted drivers are usually talking on their phones or texting. There have been 3,154 deaths related to distracted driving in 2013. Speeding is another cause of death related car accidents. Being a cautious driver, paying attention and abiding by the speed limit are keys to preventing many car accidents. When driving we should think about our safety and the safety of others. Abiding by the laws of the road and being considerate are a big part of driving safety.

I have had the experience of being in a car accident. The car accident was not serious or life threatening but it was traumatic. This accident was caused by a distracted driver. I have also witnessed people being an irresponsible driver by going over the speed limit which is a very common cause of car accidents. The steps I could take to be a better driver would be to be more cautious and focus on the road. Also, focus on the things and people around me. I would help others to be a better and safer driver by encouraging people to be sober while driving, drive the speed limit, and being aware or their surroundings.