Making it Home Safely

In our busy world, driving is often seen as a chore, just turn on your favourite song and cruise down the highway. However, with a vehicle there are many decisions that can lead to life or death situations. Tens of thousands of people lose their lives every year due to motor vehicle collisions, and leave an empty chair at the dinner table. I know first hand that having experienced when a simple road trip can turn into a life or death emergency. One missed signal, switching lanes at the wrong time can create an unforgettable gut wrenching moment. It is a personal responsibility and everyone's duty to preserve human life. To stop these senseless losses of life we must educate new drivers early, promote a sense of community and responsibility as well as show compassion to others on the road.

Driver education is the first step in ensuring safety on our roads. Driving is a serious task that requires a lot of focus and mindfulness. Many new drivers tend to learn on their own and face many scary situations on the road where a simple mistake can cost them or someone else's life. Educating new drivers will teach them proper and safe techniques on the road such as defensive driving and how to handle certain weather conditions. Moreover, the right education can combat the carelessness and selfishness of the youth by making them see a car for what it is, a large heavy machine that can cause great harm. Understanding physics and the fragile state of the human body makes driving a lot safer and less fun.

To reduce the death toll on our roads we must make changes in many areas. Enforcing strict laws in regards to cell phone usage and impaired driving can make a huge difference. Furthermore, making people more aware of the dangers of distracted driving and texting while driving will help combat this growing epidemic. Updating our infrastructure and making roads safer and more driver friendly is another great way to prevent accidents. Lastly, building safer vehicles with better technology can also aid drivers on the road. However, education is a must and all these precautions cannot replace a driver's focus and understanding of the road.

My knowledge and understanding of road safety comes from the real world and seeing the tragedies occur right here in our own community in Ottawa. Going through my social media feed is no longer a highlight of my day, because scrolling down I may find a mutual friend or someone I know was involved in a car accident. The fact that I have friends who are in comas and fighting for their lives or lost loved ones due to a careless turn, driving too fast, impaired driving or not wearing a seat belt makes me understand the gravity of the situation. Knowing people myself who have survived a horrific car accident where the driver had no idea what to do makes me more careful and cautious as I don't know if I will make it home safe.

This event has impacted me greatly and changed my outlook on driving completely. I know that I can make a difference by setting a good example and promoting road safety to others. To ensure the safety of my passengers and myself I like to have certain procedures I must follow before starting my car. I must make sure I am in the driver's seat and my seat is adjusted to a safe position where I can easily reach and operate all controls without straining. My seatbelt must be on and I ensure everyone in the car has their seatbelt on as well before I begin to move. I must also be free of distractions in order to concentrate on the road and my surroundings. To avoid using my phone while driving I keep it in a safe place out of my reach and if I must enter a destination or address I ask my passengers to avoid any potential danger. To combat the danger of loud music or in car entertainment I make sure to keep it at a minimum so I can always hear my surroundings and my passengers. As a passenger in the car I would say my job is to keep the driver focused on the road and make sure they're not distracted. Being in a vehicle with someone else is a scary experience and knowing your life is in someone else's hands is terrifying. I would make sure to keep the driver's phone within my reach to avoid any sudden movements when a call or notification sounds. I would also give directions if a turn is needed or switch songs if the driver decided to do so. I would take any task off the driver's hands to avoid any potential distraction and give them full attention to the road.

When driving, there are many lives in our hands including pedestrians and fellow drivers. Thousands of innocent people lose their lives due to car accidents every year. We must make sure to prevent these tragedies from occurring by educating our drivers, making our roads safer and keeping drivers free of any distractions.