What Will You Do?

If
I’m leaving anywhere, the last thing I hear, other than goodbye, is
“Drive safe.”


It’s
either that, or, “Watch out for the deer,” which means “I love
you, drive safe, and goodbye” in Missouri-speak.

No
one I know, so far, has been injured while driving, and for that, I’m
grateful. But I have the horrible feeling that won’t last long, due
to the increase in distracted driving over the past couple of years.

Driver’s
Ed is extremely important in teaching kids how to drive properly -
and safely - before they get their license, otherwise they’ll pick
up bad habits from their friends, their parents, or anyone else they
observe. Driving without a seat belt, texting, changing the radio,
and more are what I’ve observed others doing when driving - all
very dangerous, and all could change a life in a second.

I
haven’t
been in a car accident, and I hope to never be in one - there has
been only one close call, after I’d been driving for three hours
and didn’t see a car coming towards me before I turned.

What
we can do to prevent the numerous deaths: ride with someone else, and
switch out if you feel drowsy, send texts before you leave and call
people back after you’re
done driving, check your mirrors twice before you change lanes, and
don’t try to show off while driving.

My
steps? I’m
going to stop punching the radio button to change the station when I
hate the song, and make sure that I’m double checking before I make
any sort of move while driving.

What
will you do?