Taking Control of Potential Impact

When teenagers first learn to drive, it is very exciting for them; they finally get to leave the house without waiting for their parents to drive them, they can drive their friends instead of asking them for a ride, and they can finally pick up Chick-Fil-A after school. While these are great things to look forward to being able to do because they create a sense of independence and adulthood, it is important for everyone, but especially the eager new drivers, to be aware of how quickly a life can end when a driver is distracted.

Speaking from personal experience, I know that being in a car accident does not mean that you were the distracted driver; I have been in multiple car accidents, but only one of those accidents was the fault of the driver of the car that I was in. While driving is important and an efficient form of transportation that our society tends to rely on, it is vital for drivers to understand not only that they should be extremely cautious of their driving, but also that they must be aware of the cars around them and how they are driving; are they swerving? speeding? braking frequently? All of these could affect your life.

In light of being alert of your surroundings, it is important to note that practicing safe driving will influence your peers or family members to drive in a similar manner, or the drivers on the road around you. When people ride with other drivers, they tend to determine the quality of the driver based on the little mistakes they make along the drive; taking the time to reduce the little mistakes, from braking abruptly to checking your phone for a text, will show your passenger how safely you drive, and display how simple it can be to drive without risking anyone’s lives. Likewise, driving the speed limit and driving within the lines will encourage other drivers on the road to do the same; no driver wants to look like the crazy driver on the road!

So, do you want to know whether you are driving safely? Well chances are, if you are asking this question then you are at least taking a step towards being a safe driver. If you are a parent or plan to be, make sure that your child takes a drivers ed course; not only do they teach students how to operate a vehicle, but they also teach them how to safely react if other drivers are being irresponsible. Additionally, drive safe so that they understand what it means to be a safe driver! For students, make sure you take the mentioned course and follow the driving standards that you set for drivers when you are in the passenger seat. What seems minor now could have a sizable impact, and some things are not worth discovering the hard way.