The vast majority humans associate safe to boring and unsafe to exciting, especially the young. Driving is no exception, as many consider driving a boring and tedious practice, but we can make safe driving fun too! Get to know your car beyond just driving it. Regularly check it to make sure that everything is working well and there is nothing unusual. Feel comfortable while driving it by regularly washing and cleaning it and add scents and extra cushions as needed. Do not let driving become a chore. Listen to music or sing while driving without getting distracted. Always avoid distractions, such as using or phone or eating while driving. Practice safe driving. Do not do things such as drive after drinking alcohol or speeding to make our journey fun. Another component is inexperience and anxiety as new drivers could get anxious worried about doing everything perfectly and trying to avoid danger. We must drive in a confident way so that we can react correctly to any case and always observing safety practices. There’s a lot of things that can make driving fun.
Getting to know your car is very helpful and can be very fun. Knowing how your car should drive and sound will alert you when something is wrong. Do regular check-ups but always notice strange noises or when it doesn’t respond like it should. Feeling comfortable while driving removes the edge off of driving. A clean car that always smells good gives you a better driving experience. Doing it yourself is even better because it allows you to spend some time with yourself, getting to know your car better, and you appreciate it more because of the effort you out into it. An important part of both your check-ups and comfort is the AC. You do not want the AC malfunctioning especially in extreme hot weather as this will cause discomfort.
Never let driving become a chore and something boring. Put your favorite music on the radio and sing along or your favorite news channel or educational station. Changing up depending on your mood or your preference. You never have to get stuck with the same thing on your sound box. Pay attention to your surroundings and observe things to enjoy the road a little more and at the same time helping you anticipate possible dangers. However, always stay present on the road and do not let your observations distract you.
Each day in the United States, nine people are killed and over a 1000 people injured because of a distracted driver. There’s three categories of distracted driving which are manual, visual and cognitive. A visual distraction is getting our eyes off the road, a manual is taking our hands off the wheel and a cognitive is being distracted by our thoughts. The worst way to get distracted is texting or using the phone as it usually encompasses all three categories. More than a million crashes per year are caused by cellphone use while driving. In the United States, 1 out of 4 accidents are caused because of texting. In fact, 42 out of 50 states now have texting and driving laws.
Another very unsafe practice is drinking and driving. Driving after drinking any amount of alcohol can impair your judgment and slow down your reaction time. One out of three car accidents are because of drunk drivers. If you’re planning on drinking it is better to ask for an Uber or someone who can drive you home. Never let yourself drive after drinking alcohol.
Driving at high speeds can also cause accidents. Speeding results in about 10,000 traffic fatalities per year. We understand that, with the hustle of life today, the entire planet is in a hurry. To make sure you're not in a hurry, the best thing to do is give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. As they say, “slowly because I'm in a hurry.” This saying encompasses the importance of not rushing to get to your destination safely.
Almost every new driver gets anxious when they are driving. It is understandable because you have a huge responsibility in your hands. Young and new drivers have high rates of car crashes. In 1995, sixteen year old drivers were implicated in 35 crashes per million miles of travel. This happens because new drivers are inexperienced and they lack the necessary driving skills. A way they can avoid anxiety is before even star the engine, breathe deeply and try to think positive things. Take driving a step at a time focusing on what you are doing in the moment without trying to do everything perfectly, but always following all safety precautions. It is important to stay focused and maintain emotional and mental stability to be able to react correctly accordingly. Unfortunately, you cannot get around inexperience, but the adult teaching the minor must induce them to obtain a good driver's education and safe driving practices.
The most important safety practice while driving is to always wear a seat belt. Seat belts are designed to keep you safe on the road so you never neglect to use them. Even if you only drive around the block, you should always wear the seat belt. Also, you must use the belt because if you get caught not wearing it, you can get an expensive ticket.
My family and I where almost involved in a car accident, due to the negligence and unsafe practices of another driver. An evening on our way home, a car was trying to pass another. Both heading our way. The passing car did not notice that we were coming in the opposite direction and almost hit us head-on. Luckily, the car that was being passed, went a little out of the lane and braked at the same time that we braked, allowing the passing vehicle to get back in its lane avoiding the crash. It took to different drivers with very good reactions, my dad and the car being passed, to avoid a crash from an unsafe driver. It’s important we all get good driving education before getting behind the wheel to avoid problems and accidents during a journey in the road. I was lucky to have my dad as my teacher as my dad always observes safe driving practices including the seat belt and has always taught us the importance of keeping our car in good driving condition.