Importance of Safe Driving

Yawning, I sighed as I began to turn off of the highway. I barely got any sleep last night, and had just finished yet another full day of work. I rubbed my eyes to try and stay awake, and then took a huge swig of my energy drink. I began to speed back up to 30, 40, and then 50 miles per hour, trying to keep up with the car in front of me. The boring drive home always seemed to zap all of the energy I had left, and I felt myself beginning to fall asleep.Mere seconds later I drove my car off of the road into a field, realizing all too late I forgot to put on a seatbelt. In a split second, I had ended my own life before it truly even began.

As a wise person once said, “It’s not about how good of a driver you are. It’s about the five seconds you take your eyes off the road.” Though most people do not realize it, having the ability to drive truly is a privilege. Attaining a driver’s license immediately puts an amplitude of power into a person’s hands, regardless of whether they realize it or not. A person is not only in control of their own lives, but the lives of others; whether it be a pedestrian or another person in the car. It is important to put yourself in another person’s shoes, and imagine how you would feel if a loved one was taken from you because another person decided to drive in an unsafe manner. Now more than ever, reckless driving has become an alarming problem, especially with the increased usage of technology.

One of the biggest issues when it comes to driving is “distracted driving.” That is driving with any distraction that takes your eyes off of the road, such as trying to answer a call or text on a cellphone, talking to other people in the car, trying to consume food or drink, and more. Most people think they will be fine answering a text or turning their head to participate in a conversation, but that could not be further from the truth. Other people do not realize that most of the time, the people who get into car accidents do not do so intentionally. They think they will be fine, just as everyone else does, eventually leading to what could potentially be a life-altering car accident for themselves or for other people. Turning your attention away from the road for even one second is just enough time for an accident to happen. It is crucial to drive distraction free, no matter how much experience a person has with driving. In order to avoid distractions, put your phone on Do Not Disturb (DND), turn on directions before leaving your location if needed, pick the playlist you want to listen to before leaving, and more. The majority of the time, a simple solution for distracted driving can be found.

Another issue when it comes to driving is driving under the influence. That may mean driving while under the influence of alcohol, and/or some type of drug. Either way, doing so is never a good idea, and almost always leads to some type of accident. Calling a parent may get you in trouble with them, but it is better than committing an action that could cause you to take your own life, and/or the lives of other people. If you do not want to call your parents, call another trusted individual, such as a close friend. Even if you do not feel “drunk” or “high,” that does not mean that you are safe to drive. It is proven that a person is unable to completely think clearly while under the influence of any substance, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

Overall, it is clear that driving safely is something that cannot be avoided. It is crucial for the protection of yourself and others, and will save many people from a world of hurt. Driving under the influence, or distracted driving, will almost always end up in some type of accident. It is important to be safe rather than sorry, as one accident could permanently ruin or end your life or the lives of other people. Imagine how your loved ones would feel to get that phone call saying you got into an accident, when it could have all been easily avoided to begin with.