Driving is easily one of the most exhilarating, and dangerous activities that most Americans do every single day. Deaths from a motor vehicle in the United States are consecutively at an even lower rate than the year before, though it is not enough. Now more than ever, driver safety is some of the most important information we need to be teaching new drivers, and ourselves, to remind us of the dire consequences that driving holds for us. A few actions that all Americans can take to help reduce the number of deaths while driving and be a safer driver, is keeping your phone off, following the speed limit, and driving sober.

Even though most Americans that drive, also have a cell phone, does not mean that they should use it while driving. A good percentage of deaths related to driving are at the hands of our phone. Many teenagers and even adults grow comfortable in their ignorance, and don’t realize that these crashes can happen to them as well. A few things you can do to keep your phone away from you while driving, is setting the phone in your glovebox, in the backseat of your car away from reach and silenced, or in a bag that you may be storing in your car. It can be hard to hear a notification from your phone, and not want to check it immediately. I assume this is how most people find themselves on their phones at stop lights, or even places like the freeway. By addressing this one problem, numerous lives will be saved.


Following the speed limit is another aspect of this issue, while accounting for about quadruple the amount of deaths related to texting and driving. Speeding in all cases, is just not worth it. Arriving a few minutes early or on time is not worth putting your and others lives at risk on the road. One thing that helps me is setting the clock in my car a few minutes behind to make sure that I am always early, or even on time when I am running late. Another thing that may help, is keeping a mindset that even if you are late, it is okay. No set time for anything is worth potentially crashing. If people are waiting, simply letting people know that you will be late, and taking responsibility for your actions is the best route.

Getting a DUI is never good, both on your record and for safety on the road. The deaths from driving under the influence account for an average of 30% of deaths from a motor vehicle. For adults planning on having a fun night out, try planning ahead and make the proper arrangements. Always go with a group or someone else that can drive you home. If you need a ride and cannot drive home, then call someone you know. In some cases, DUI’s can result from over-the-counter medications that you aren’t aware of, so always read the labels and know the side effects. Also to address something that shouldn’t even need to be said, if under the age of an adult or where it is illegal to drink, then stay away from peer pressure and just don’t drink. Letting people know that they shouldn’t drink and drive, can also help spread awareness and help save lives.

Although a lot of this appears to be common sense, it is always good to brush up on drivers' education and know the rules of the road. As a new driver myself, I cannot say I am even close to understanding my car, and how others drive on the road because both of these things can be uncontrollable. Though one thing that you can control is yourself. Less than a week after I got my license, I got rear-ended in the pouring rain and had to resolve a situation by myself. In my situation, there was a car that stopped suddenly in the middle of the road, and I was able to hit the brakes just in time to not hit them. Unfortunately, the car behind could not stop in time and hit me. Both cars were fine except for some small scrapes, though when I approached him he asked for $150. I rejected handing over the $150 since if anything he should be paying me for hitting my car, and when asking to exchange insurance, he left without saying a word. Although it was a weird situation, at that moment I learned many things that will stick with me when I drive from now on, and I know how to handle myself in the event of an accident. Hopefully by obeying some of the things I said these issues won’t happen again, though it is never bad to be prepared.