The Importance of Safe Driving

Mia Buchanan

Grade 12

Dauphin County Technical School

Driver Education Initiative Award Scholarship

Driving has been at a high demand throughout the years and the number of car crashes increases each year. There are three main causes of accidents from driving: drunk driving with 40%, speeding with 30%, and irresponsibility with 33%. Each year there are about six million car crashes and in about 90% of those accidents someone dies. This can be reduced and one way is by driving education. Studies show that taking drivers ed especially for teens can help reduce accidents because it helps new drivers learn the skills that are essential to the safe operation of a car. Studies also show that children who have taken drivers ed are involved in fewer driving accidents. Drivers ed is very important because even though parents want to teach their kids how to drive they might miss key or important information about the road that drivers ed can provide, such as teaching about how to get out of tough scenarios they may encounter on the road. Not only does drivers ed teach kids how to drive but it can also help teens pass their test(s) quicker.

Driver’s education is not the only way to reduce driving accidents. One step to take is to make sure your vehicle is in top condition; if not, there is a possibility that something can cause your car to break down or stop randomly in the middle of the road. Another step is to anticipate the actions of others. This means if you notice that another driver is speeding towards you just get out of the way, or if you notice that a car is constantly swerving stay at a far distance and slower pace in case the driver would suddenly stop. Driving can be safer if you only drive when you are in great physical and mental condition. This means if you are feeling under the weather or drowsy don’t drive, and if you have been in a situation that has physically hurt you do not drive. Following these steps will not only keep you safe but also the people around and with you safe. Step four is to never use your cell phone while driving unless it is an emergency and if you do have to use your phone pullover. That leads to the last step which is to avoid eating and drinking or multi-tasking while driving, because the main cause of accidents is people being distracted. Following these steps can help on being a safer and wiser driver.

I know people who have ignored these steps and it has caused accidents. Not too long ago I had a friend get injured in a car accident. She was coming around a corner on her way home when she drove into the back of a truck. She is a very good driver and the accident wasn't completely her fault but if she had anticipated the actions of other drivers or drove a little slower she wouldn’t have run into the back of the truck. I have been in a fender bender myself; I wasn’t driving but my mother was. We were behind a black car at a red light and when the light turned green the driver started to drive but suddenly slammed on his brakes causing us to crash. In this situation both my mom and the other driver were in the wrong. If my mom wasn’t multi-tasking she would have seen the driver brake, but if the other driver also wasn’t multi-tasking he wouldn’t have had to stop. So, following the steps above can prevent a lot of accidents and reduce deaths.

Knowing what I know and have learned about driving I can be a better and safer driver. When practicing I will not multi-task, such as eating or using my cell phone. I will make sure that before I start driving I am fully awake and am conscious of what other drivers are doing and anticipate their actions. I will also keep up on the condition of my car or the car I am driving so I do not cause any accidents. Overall, I will try my very best to follow all the rules and be conscious of what is going on around me and I advise others to do the same.