Think Before Turning the Key

Alyssa Martinez

            Think Before Turning the Key 

Getting behind the wheel and driving is something that almost everyone aspires to do, one day or another. Driving, especially living in California like myself, is pretty much essential for day to day living. The amount of cars that I see each day is endless. Everyone that drives has to take a driver’s test and learn the rules of driving, but how many people live by those rules once they pass? The answer would most realistically be, not a great majority of people. They learn the bare minimum that they need to in order to pass and after they do, they throw the rules out of the window. The truth is that these rules and safety guidelines need to be followed more carefully because on average, around 36,000 people die in America each year, due to death my car. 

There are a vast majority of ways that people can become better drivers, one of the easiest and most important ways would be getting their drivers education. If a person is under the age of eighteen years old then it is mandatory for them to take drivers ed, in order to get their license. Drivers ed gives people the basic information that they need to be safe drivers. It fills people with the knowledge and rules of the road. By receiving this information it boosts the driver’s confidence and awareness. Aware drives are a thousand percent safer than drivers who have no regard for their surroundings. 

Driving safely all starts with the driver’s mentality. People who get behind the wheel should be in the right state of mind. There are many steps that can be taken to ensure that a person is coherent enough to get behind the wheel. A person should never drive under the influence of any alcohol or drugs, even if they believe that they are fine to drive. Alcohol inhibits a person’s ability to think and see clearly, which doesn’t mix well with driving. Tiredness and sleep deprivation is almost as deadly as driving under the influence. If someone is tired and can’t even keep their eyes open, odds are they won’t be able to drive at their normal capability. This could lead them to getting in a car crash that does not only affect themselves, but other people. Another step that should be taken to prevent car accidents is not driving when emotion has overtaken you. These emotions could consist of anger, sadness, or anxiety, all of them are powerful. Usually when a person feels one of these emotions that is the only thing that they think about, which leaves very little focus on the actual driving. All of these steps should be taken if a person wants to lower their chances of an accident. 

Driving is not guaranteed and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Being able to drive is a blessing and people should start treating it that way. Safety should be taken no matter what, when a person gets behind the wheel.