The Importance Of Following The Rules

A driver’s license, a small plastic government card that gives someone the legal permission to drive a vehicle. That's the official definition, but to many a driver’s license represents freedom, independence and a piece of adulthood. As a teenager, one of the biggest milestones in that period of life is getting a driver's license and finally being able to travel freely whether it be from work, school, events, or even hangouts with friends. I didn’t get my license until the second semester of my senior year but finally getting it overshadowed the feelings that I felt when I had turned eighteen. I finally felt like I could fit in with others my age and relate to them. As we are young, we hear about the risks of driving and the possibility of death and those warnings are often overlooked with the excuse, “it won’t happen to me.” Driving is one of the many things people do every day that is extremely dangerous, an activity that results in thousands of people losing their lives in very preventable accidents leaving families and friends to grieve. While advances to vehicle technology have changed from 1886 to follow stricter measures there are still flaws in every vehicle which is why before being allowed to get a license, people must drive with a parent, take the classes, and drive with an instructor. Driver's education will always be important, especially to newer generations.

 

Driver's education plays a huge part in reducing the number of deaths related to driving because of everything that is taught during the class. During the twenty-four-hour class that has to be taken, whether in person or online, general education is given about signs, pavement conditions, and many other things but it also includes helpful information on what to do when certain icons show up on the dashboard, how to change a tire, and when to check for certain things. All of these can keep someone from losing control of their car and crashing while also being helpful to know for others. During the classes it is also taught on how drivers can make safe decisions, stay awake and aware of their surroundings, and break down all the consequences of unsafe driving. The most common occurrences like speeding, texting and driving, and driving while under the influence are covered and how they can ruin someone's life if an accident occurs, these instances being covered can make most reconsider their decisions and how they will act on the road, especially with the personal testimony videos. 

There are multiple steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, one of the biggest is continuing to remind drivers of all ages about safe driving and the practices it includes. While new drivers take driver’s education classes, experienced drivers can sometimes become careless or develop bad habits over time and not correct them. Safe driving is something that should be talked about constantly, not just when someone is getting their license, understanding the dangers of driving throughout life is something that most people need to remember to be safe and to remember their actions have consequences. 

Distracted driving is an issue that needs to be talked about and eliminating it is the second step to help reduce deaths related to driving. It’s so easy for people to pick up the phone when driving after getting more comfortable with driving, especially because everyone is constantly connected to social media, texting or even worried that they are going to miss something important. A lot of people think that checking a notification for two seconds isn’t a big deal, but that’s all it takes for an accident to happen and for lives to be lost. Preparing for the drive that is about to be made, whether it be by putting a bunch of songs in a queue or eliminating other distractions is so simple, but it saves lives. 

Obeying traffic laws is the third step that can help reduce deaths related to driving. Speed limits, seat belt laws, and impaired driving laws are made for a reason, they’ve all been put into place after years of the same situations happening leading to the same consequences as deaths when driving. Wearing a seat belt every time someone gets in a car may seem like common sense, but it significantly increases the chances of surviving an accident even if it feels nice to not wear it on occasion. Also, choosing not to drive when feeling emotions like being tired, being distracted, or being under the influence of any substance can make a big difference in reducing deaths too. 

Growing up, my dad has always been an unsafe driver because he feels experienced as he's been driving for thirty plus years. He gets road rage often and normally doesn’t obey the speed limits. I think it’s influenced how I drive now and wanting to always be safe. I think it’s very selfish to not obey traffic rules because you could end up getting someone killed and I wouldn’t want to be responsible for something like that. Also, with my dad being an unsafe driver, he has gotten pulled over before and seeing him get frustrated at police officers for just trying to do their jobs and keep people on the road safe has made me a big afraid of being pulled over so I am a very safe and non-distracted driver and I will continue to stay that way.   

As a new driver, I am always certain that there are steps I can take to become a better and safer driver and I am certain there are ways I can encourage others to do the same and I think one of those steps is practicing patience while I drive. I feel it’s very easy to become frustrated when someone isn’t going the speed limit or doesn’t even follow traffic laws themselves. Reminding myself and others that reacting in anger will only make the situation more dangerous and being safe and patient comes with being a driver in every situation and it is something I agreed to when getting my license. Another thing I can do is lead by example. If my friends are in the car with me, I want them and their families to know that I am a safe driver, so they trust me. I can encourage them to wear their seat belts and if I am in the car with them then I can remind them not to text and drive, something I feel I do often because I don’t feel comfortable with the driver having their eyes off the road. Also, if someone I know isn’t in a safe condition to drive, I would rather help them find another way home than risk something terrible happening to them or to myself. Everyone has a person that cares for them and nobody wants a call from the police that ends in crying and someone's death announcement. 

At the end of the day, every driver has a responsibility to help make the roads safer, something they agree to when doing schooling. No notification is worth losing a life over and drivers education shows that to use through all the videos and articles. Driver’s education is so important for everyone to receive and more emphasis on distracted driving, driving under certain conditions, and being able to understand and act quickly in unsafe situations is needed for the decrease in driving related deaths to happen, especially in decision making though because most people don’t know what to do when they see an upcoming unsafe situation. Once drivers really understand those three points then accident related deaths will drop.