The Dangers of Driving Negligently

Driving is a privilege given to us by past geniuses that, unfortunately, most of us take for granted. We do not realize how deadly cars can be until it is too late. We have taken to this activity to put others at risk, just so that we can feel a rush going at high speeds. Or we become careless and step into a vehicle knowing that you are slumberous, or even worse, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a dangerous truth that we don’t treat driving as seriously as we should.  

Death is talked about significantly when it comes to driving and driving under the influence. However, the truth is that death isn’t talked about enough. On average, a staggering 40,000-42,000 people are killed yearly in car-related accidents in the US. This is unacceptable; we cannot just stand here and let people carelessly end others' lives. Over what? A road rage incident, a lousy error made by a distracted driver? We need to hold ourselves accountable for the choices we make. That means knowing how easy it is to kill someone with your car, and following every single law created on the roads. We need to realize that emotions are a very important part of human life. We cannot let our emotions get the best of us. This entails that if someone cuts you off or does anything reckless near you, you will not lash out and chase after them at all. Doing that will only cause more damage to yourself and, more importantly, to others.  

There are ways that we can help understand helpful driving decisions and choices. We can observe good attitudes while driving. Examples of good attitudes are as follows: being patient while driving, constantly staying alert and cautious of those around you, and being respectful and courteous to others. When driving, patience is a very important quality to practice. We don’t always need to be in a rush to go places; if you take your time, you may avoid a serious accident. Or if someone is stopped for no reason, if you stop and wait for them instead of blowing past them in anger, you may realize that they may have been stopped for a good reason, such as an animal or a pedestrian. Staying alert is an essential ability as well. Being cautious and alert can, most of the time, prevent accidents from occurring altogether. An example is if you are going to a stopped car or truck, and you are distracted by your phone, or by talking and looking at your passenger, you may drive straight into them by not paying attention. And lastly, being courteous. Being kind will not only help cars move faster and safer, but it can also make others' days and help them feel happier. It can be a small or unnecessary task, but it's what works wonders.  

We can also improve our driving style by changing and adopting some defensive driving habits. These are maintaining a 3-4 second following distance, eliminating all phone use and distractions, strictly obeying speed limits, and never driving while fatigued or impaired. This is something that a lot of people unconsciously do when driving on the freeway, when going too fast. Eliminating all phone usage is a common and very effective way to prevent almost any type of accident. Speed limits are also very important and, most of the time, not followed properly. You should always go at the speed of the posted speed limit, not over it. Sometimes you may feel obligated to do so because everyone around you is going over. However, you should not go above the speed limit at all.  Driving while under the influence is a major occurrence anywhere in the world; this is a fact that everyone will agree to. However, it is one of the most important laws to follow. Driving impaired is not funny, or cool, or smart in the slightest. You should never be in a situation where you are driving, even if you had a single beer before. There is no excuse for drunk driving, and you, as a driver, should hold yourself to a higher standard than to ever think about driving under the influence.  

To conclude, there are many ways that you can put yourself and others at risk. Risk is something that can never truly be eliminated in driving. But that doesn’t mean you should not be taking precautions to limit as many accidents as possible. Laws and regulations were made for a reason; you, as a driver, do not know better than the history of car-related deaths. Follow the rules and have a good attitude when driving, so that we can all feel a little safer on the road.