Knowing the rules and regulations of the road will help save lives. Knowing how a four way stop works, how a yellow light means slow down not speed up, and why it is important to leave space between you and the car in front of you are just a few examples of road rules that should be followed to help prevent accidents that could be fatal. Not being educated before doing any dangerous activity is going to lead to preventable incidents which is why educating yourself beforehand is extremely important. It is not just your life you have an impact on when on the road. We have gotten so used to having vehicles that we have become desensitized to just how dangerous they are. I have seen people who run into things while trying to text and walk, so why do we think we can text and drive? Educating yourself and others is only part of it, following these rules and safety procedures is just as important as knowing them. Understanding the reasons behind the rules can also help people acknowledge that they are important. Like leaving space between you and the car in front of you as mentioned above. This is in case something unexpected happens, like maybe they have a tire blowout or another driver swerves in front of you while trying to not miss their exit coming up. When you have that extra space it gives you extra time to slow down and avoid accidents.
The steps to take for less deaths on the road is up to us as a people. Having stricter rules and more traffic stops will not stop people from breaking the rules. Humans have shown again and again that they will do as they please and some disregard their carelessness. We have to understand the enormous responsibility placed on us when we get behind the wheel. Teaching our kids how serious these automobiles are and the seriousness of that responsibility. It is up to each of us individually to do our part in driving safely.
I personally have never been in a car accident, knock on wood, but I did ride with my uncle a few times and he was not a safe driver. He would text while driving, speed well over the speed limit, and speed up for yellow lights when he definitely should have slowed down. He texted me one night that he was on his way home from out of town. Instead of him showing up though it was the police to inform us he was killed in a car accident. We were devastated. I saw my memaw, his mother, cry like I have never seen before. He had been texting while driving and swerved into oncoming traffic. Ever since that night I have been cautious and aware of the other drivers around me. If I ride with someone and they are careless, I do not ride with them again. My wife was trying to take a left turn out of a gas station and did not see the truck in the second lane, so she pulled out and got t-boned. I was so scared and grateful that she and our two dogs in the back seat were ok. When in doubt, I wait until I'm 100 percent sure before going.
I like to consider myself a safe driver but honestly there are times I am in a hurry or I am frustrated and it is easier to dismiss being safe and to just get where I am going. Not getting road rage with other drivers is a big one for me personally. I have gotten better but if I'm already having a stressful day it is easier for those mean emotions to come up. Yelling at someone for making a mistake, or purposefully driving recklessly, will not change what has happened and will more likely upset them as well. Then we have two angry people on the road. Angry driving is not safe driving. Acknowledging my anger and then moving on is hard but what I am currently working on. I make mistakes and appreciate patience in those moments, which is what I try to keep in mind when others make mistakes. On my way home from work some days I catch myself speeding even though I know better. I am done working for the day and just want to get home to my comfy clothes. Kick off the work shoes and slip on the house shoes. But this is not a good excuse for speeding. The comfy clothes and shoes will be there whether I get home sooner or later. But me driving unsafely could mean me not getting home at all. Patience is my biggest step to being a safer driver.