“Driving is a responsibility and privilege that should not be taken lightly.” This is something that I have heard since childhood and especially since I got my license. Driving is something that many people do not think too much about. When one is driving, they single-handedly have their life and the lives of the drivers around them in their hands with just a slight turn of the steering wheel. Responsible and defensive driving is important, as a calm situation on the road can change in a single instant, and drivers need to be prepared for this.
Being prepared for sudden changes is something that a driver’s education course can teach new drivers. Drivers’ education courses teach drivers basic safety skills and help them improve their driving habits. Illinois DMV explained, “These courses go over the basic rules of the road, teach drivers safe maneuvers, and reduce the risk of getting into an accident” (DMV Admin). By educating new drivers on safe driving skills and the basic rules of the road, Drivers’ Education is setting drivers up for success and safety. Drivers’ education is one way for a driver to learn how to defensively drive. When one knows how to defensively drive, one will be more likely to know how to prevent getting into an accident. By knowing how to avoid accidents, drivers reduce the risk of death, both theirs and other drivers on the road. While driver’s education is one way to help reduce death, many other ways can be helpful as well.
Responsible driving is not just important for new drivers, but for any driver, young or old. The most important step you, as a driver, should take is to put on your seatbelt. Seat belts are installed in cars for a purpose. They should not be seen as an option, and they most certainly should not be ignored. From previous research on this topic, I have found an eye-opening statistic. The Journal of Safety Research wrote, “According to the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS),... nearly half (48%) of passenger vehicle fatalities with known seat belt use status were unbelted” (Shakya). Nearly half of all the deaths in this study were unbuckled. Think of all the people who most likely would have lived just by simply buckling up. It does not matter if you see them as uncomfortable; this is a matter of life and death. One other step that could be taken is to put down your phone. In today’s society, there are so many hands-free options that could give you the directions you need; do not use that as an excuse. When I am in the passenger seat, driving on the interstate, I would estimate that around 50% of the drivers are looking at their phones instead of the road. Try to pay attention next time you are driving and see if you agree. Phones and mobile devices distract drivers, making them less aware of what is happening around them. If drivers were more in tune with what is happening on the road, fewer crashes would occur, and fewer deaths would follow. As a driver myself, I also take these precautions. I pay attention to the road, buckle up, and stay off my phone. If we all follow these tips, the road would be a much safer place. In the famous words of the Missouri Department of Transportation, “Phone Down, Buckle Up.”
This slogan has been something that many people in my close circle are familiar with. I have seen my friends get distracted by their phones while they are driving many times. I try to be vocal about my stance on this frequently. I ask if they want me to type the message or look for directions. It only takes a simple question to avoid a complicated situation that could involve an accident and even death. I have also seen some of my family ride in a car unbuckled. As a driver myself, I require all my passengers to buckle up before I start driving. If you are not buckled up, I will not move. These are simple practices that I do: the people texting you can wait, and Instagram will still be there in 10 minutes. I also try to be adamant with the people around me to follow these practices. Many of my friends and family have realized that these practices are safer for everyone involved.
This slogan from MoDOT has also rung in my ears for years. My father has worked at the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) since before I was born. There have been countless times that my father has been working on the roads at night and during the day. The ability of my father to return home after work depends on the ability of the drivers to be defensive and responsible. I have heard too many stories from my father and other workers about close calls and unfortunate deaths that have happened on the job. These stories of close calls are often told nonchalantly as if it does not matter. No road worker should be close enough to be hit so many times that they become normalized to the situation. I put my faith in drivers every day. I depend on you to bring my father home from work. I am here as a student, a driver, a road worker’s daughter, and a person who has their own life ahead of them to remind you that safe driving starts with you. I urge you and everyone reading this essay to drive responsibly, defensively, and safely. If you cannot do it for yourself, do it for a loved one. Do it for the people who want to come home. Do what is necessary to stay alive. Buckle up. Put your phone down. Call a ride. It all starts with you.