In the Driver’s Seat: The Importance of Being a Safe Driver

Being a safe driver is an important responsibility that many people do not think of when they open their car door to get in their driver's seat and back out of their driveway every morning. When you get out on the road you are in control of a several hundred pound vehicle. Last year, more than 100 people were killed in traffic related deaths in North Dakota in 2018. That is 100 of your family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers. While that number is down from 2017, it is crucial that everyone take drivers safety seriously.

An important key to reducing the number of deaths and achieving the state's overall goal of zero fatalities and zero serious injuries is drivers ed. Drivers ed provides a solid foundation of overall skills and knowledge of driving and the rules of the road. By providing a mixture of classroom and on road training it aims at practicing for what one might see on the road. The importance of taking drivers safety is not only to learn what one should do on the road, but also moreover what one should avoid doing when driving. Other steps to reduce the number of driving related deaths are to ensure everyone within the vehicle wears their seatbelt properly, drivers never drive distracted, and lastly but most importantly no one drives under the influence.

Many times while I am driving I will notice that the driver in the car next to me is on their phone texting and/or on the internet. It may seem like a harmless text message or a quick google search, but it only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen and for someone to lose their life. It is so important to be concentrating on the task at hand: driving safely. Nothing else should matter, not even a text. You should never think it won’t happen to you because in reality it can happen to anyone at any time. It is important to remind the driver that the text message can always wait and will still be there when they are parked safely.

Finally, some steps we can all take to be better safer drivers are to first and foremost buckle up, be aware of your surroundings and driving conditions, and obey speed limits and laws of the road. It is also important to remember that traffic accidents can happen to anyone at anytime so it is crucial to reduce distractions and maintain your attention to driving safely.