Having the ability to drive is a privilege that comes with great risk that most people do not recognize. The number of deaths due to driving is extremely high and only increasing because drivers are being reckless whether they are not buckling their seatbelt or speeding. When I was in my defensive driving class, I learned about taking precautionary measures to help reduce the number of deaths from car related accidents. Within my class, the basics of driving such as road signs and traffic laws were one of the first of many covered subjects, and understanding all the laws will help reduce the number of accidents on the road. One of the main causes of accidents is the lack of road knowledge and inexperienced drivers not understanding the rules. My defensive driving class also emphasized the importance of wearing seatbelts and the damage someone can cause when being reckless on the road. By reinforcing safe driving while informing the students about the dangers of the road, the knowledge gained from the class will better prepare those new drives, and while they will still have a lack of experience, having a deeper understanding of the rules will allow for them to make a more informed decisions in certain situations. This also will keep them from making the wrong decisions within those situations which will reduce the number of accidents and deaths in car-related accidents. Even though these accidents are mainly caused by a lack of knowledge, the main cause of deaths is the irresponsibility drivers have while behind the wheel. When driving, seatbelts are very important because they keep you secure in the vehicle in the event of a crash, but people will still overlook this rule because they believe their driving skills are too good to crash. With that mindset, drivers tend to do even more dangerous things such as drinking while driving. Phones have also become a part of many people’s daily commute while driving, and by taking their attention away from the road they are putting their lives at risk and the lives of those who share the road with them. Taking time to make sure seatbelts are buckled before driving will keep you and passengers safe if a crash were to occur. Passengers can also make sure that the driver is not using their phone and keep their attention towards the road. With the use of phones while driving being a main problem, many states have implemented a hands-free law that forbids the use of phones while driving. Even with these laws in place, people tend to disobey them. Having enough self-control to abide by the laws in place and care for other drivers on the road will help lower the number of deaths. Drinking while driving is a major issue and having people who will watch over you and won’t persuade you to make any bad decisions is very helpful. In my experiences, I have been in the car with friends or family members that have done some of the previously mentioned. Before driving, checking to see if everyone in the car has their seatbelt on is very easy but is also easy to overlook. Being in the passenger seat with someone who is on their phones and drives keeps me on edge. Usually, the driver will put their phone down or let me text the person they are texting, look up any location, order food, or whatever they need their phone for, but when they don’t I watch the road closely as I continue to tell them to look at the road. With speeding, I can only ask the driver to slow down, but if they decide not, I must make sure my seatbelt is on and pray nobody gets injured. To ensure the safety of others on the road, drivers can register for a defensive driving class, and they teach the dangers of driving and what drivers can do to be safer on the road. Being disciplined while behind the wheel is very important, but some people tend to put fun over safety. Younger drivers usually want a nice fast car and whenever they are on the road, they want to push the limits of the vehicle. This will cause them to disregard traffic laws for some sun which can put them in jail or even worse, kill somebody. Having enough discipline and self-control to follow the traffic laws is very important to keeping the roads a safer place. Making smart and well-educated choices while driving will keep the roads a safer place for all, lower the total death count in car related accidents, and help start new and safer habits for new drivers.