Gas Kills, Brakes Save Lives

“Gas kills, brakes save lives.” This was one of the first driving lessons I ever learned when I got my learner’s license. My grandfather wanted me to remember those 5 words, because they were extremely important, he said. He wanted to prevent me from ever intentionally going too fast because if I do, one wrong movement could cost lives. That saying sticks with me to this day. I think it truly is a fundamental thing that I have to remember, so that I do my part when I’m driving and drive as safely as I can. Car accidents are scary, and can even be fatal. It is extremely important for everybody to receive high quality driver education before they sit in the driver’s seat of a car. Whether it be from a family member when you get your permit, or an educator at a school, intensive driver’s ed is crucial because operating a moving vehicle is nothing to play with. When you drive, you are responsible for your life, anyone in the car with you, and anyone in the cars around you. To reduce the numbers of deaths related to driving, I personally think that anybody that has a license should periodically be required to retake their driving test. This step would ensure that at least once a year, everyone on the road’s skills are re-evaluated so that they remain sharp, and we won’t have any drivers driving that shouldn’t still have their license. I’ve been in cars with people that drive recklessly, and it is scary. Speed kills, in the blink of an eye - if someone or something appears out of nowhere there is no guarantee that the speeding vehicle would be able to slow down to a complete stop before they cause an accident, which can be fatal to either party or just really bad. I’ve also been in the car when another vehicle was driving really fast and accidentally swerved just slightly out of their lane and scraped the side of my aunt’s car, busting our windows and scratching up the side of the car pretty bad. As an individual, I can hold up my end of the situation by always following traffic rules. I have to pay attention at all times, drive the speed limit, use my signals when turning, and make sure that my car is maintained as well-for example, with my car, if my tail light is out, the people behind me can’t see when my turn signal is on or they may not see my car from a distance in rough weather. I can help others drive safely by reminding others of the rules and the dangers of not following the rules when I’m in the car with them and they break them. Driving safely is extremely important because when you have a license and a vehicle, you have the responsibility to follow the rules and do your best to make sure everyone is safe as far as you can help it.