What is Responsible Driving?

Driving has become a daily routine in everyone’s lives. Almost everyone in the U.S. drives a vehicle at least once a day, either for work school, or for other reasons. Sometimes people forget the responsibilities involved, let alone know the hidden dangers of driving. According to driverknowledge.com, about 6 million car accidents happen in the U.S. every year, which results in more than 90 people dying in car accidents every day. Accidents can also result in many injuries, physical or mental, and some of those can cause permanent injuries. Driving a vehicle comes with a lot of responsibilities that everyone must know before they can be out on the road on their own. It is important to get proper education to know what to do and what not to do when driving.

Getting a drivers ed is the most important first step to becoming a driver. Future drivers need to understand the rules and regulations of driving. Each state has its own rules and regulations as well, and new drivers need to understand these before they even get behind the wheels. What is the first thing to do once you get in the car? What are the speed limits in different areas? What do the signs and symbols mean? What must you do when changing lanes? What are some things that you cannot do while driving? This information can only be learned when you take the drivers ed. Before I started driving, I saw a lot of these road signs and speed limits that I did not understand. I wondered why we needed them, especially around school areas. When I witnessed or heard of an accident happening as a result of speeding, I realized that it is indeed important to follow the rules of the road, especially the speed limits.

As a young driver, there are several things that I can do to reduce the number of accidents related to driving. The moment that I step inside my car, the first thing that I do is to fasten my seatbelt. Wearing seatbelts have been proven to protect one in the case of an accident. They can also reduce the risk of injury by up to 50%. Another thing that I do is check my visibility around the area. I need to see what is around me because if my car has poor visibility, it can negatively impact my driving. So I make adjustments to the side and rearview mirrors and my seats, I make sure that all windows are clean and that nothing is blocking my view. My dad also makes sure that my car is in good running condition by maintaining it regularly. Checking on the condition of your car will make sure nothing goes wrong on the road that could potentially lead to serious accidents. Most importantly, I make sure that nothing will distract me when I am driving. Texting and driving is a common habit that drivers, especially teenagers like me, like to do. It is a serious distraction that has been the cause of many accidents on the road. To get rid of this distraction, I put my phone on silent mode and I also put it out of my sight so I don’t get tempted to pick it up. By doing these steps, I can focus more on my driving, on the road and what is in front of me.

I have never been in an accident myself, thank goodness, but I have seen and passed by accidents on the road and have heard some on the news. My sister, though, was in a minor accident last year. She was rear-ended by another car while exiting from the freeway. I saw how shaken she was after the accident. Her car was also damaged and had to be in the shop for weeks. According to the investigation, the accident was a result of the other driver speeding and not paying attention to the other cars in front of him. Thank goodness it was not a serious accident, but it still left my sister shaken, and I was also a bit worried. It seems to me that even though my sister was being careful, other drivers on the road who are not so careful can also cause one to have accidents. This is why it is important to have one’s attention on the road while driving.

As I mentioned above, the steps that I can do to become a better and safer driver is to first have the drivers ed to understand the traffic rules and regulations of the road. I will always follow the speed limits posted along the road. To avoid distracted driving, I will put away my cell phone and turn off the ringer when I am behind the wheels. I will make sure that my concentration is on the road ahead of me at all times. If I get too sleepy, which sometimes happens when we are driving long distances, then I will make sure to stop and let someone else take the wheel. Somebody once told me that being sleepy behind the wheel is almost the same as driving under the influence of alcohol. I believe this is true. This can be a very dangerous combination and can lead to accidents. I am still a minor and not allowed to drink, but to those that drink and drive afterward, I say stop this bad habit now before a serious accident happens.