The Road to Success in the Driver's Seat

As the younger sibling in my family, I have been able to learn from a plethora of my older brother’s mistakes. One of these recurring mistakes would be him driving irresponsibly. Over three car accidents, one totaled car and countless lectures from my parents, it seems that he has finally learned that safer is in fact better than sorry. Not only is getting involved in irresponsible driving bad news for your insurance rates but car accidents can be deadly for yourself and everyone around you, which is why it is imperative that you drive defensively and fully aware.

One of the primary ways to ensure that drivers know how to safely navigate the road is through drivers ed. Also known as Drivers Ed, this program provides teenagers with introductory skills that aid in vehicle control and safely maneuvering in traffic. Not only does drivers ed prepare you with knowledge on rules of the road but it gives you advice on your attitude as a driver and other skills as a safe driver. A recent study done by researchers at the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that, “...more than 150,000 teen drivers over eight years has found that driver's education significantly reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers...Young drivers who have not completed drivers education are 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident.” Although you may think that taking a course in Driver’s ed isn’t necessary for you, you never know if what you learn could one day save a life, if not your own.

In additional to taking a course in Drivers ed there are some simple steps you can take as a driver to prevent potential accidents. One of the most obvious being to obey traffic laws. Using turn signals, complete stops, going the speed limit, among many other traffic laws can be what makes or breaks if you are a responsible driver. Another piece of advice for drivers new or old would be to be predictable on the road. Don’t make sudden lane changes or brakes in traffic that could catch other drivers off guard. Additionally it is principal that when driving, you should avoid distractions at all costs. One common distraction that new drivers have are cell phones. The National Safety Council reports that, “cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.” Lastly, one of the most dangerous circumstances to avoid on the road would be avoiding alcohol and drugs. Throughout your life you may be tested in this department but if ever in doubt that you or someone else should not be driving due to drugs or alcohol always find an alternative ride. By following these steps you can help contribute to making the roads a safer place.