The Responsibility of Safe Drivers

To me, being a safe driver means taking responsibility for your safety, your friends’ safety, your family’s safety, and the safety of others on the road. Driver education is the first step in reducing the number of deaths that result from driving. This type of education is about more than just how to operate a vehicle, it is also about the consequences of not following the rules of the road. A study done by the University of Nebraska analyzed the driving of over 150,000 young drivers over eight years and demonstrated the importance of driver education. Teen drivers who have not completed driver’s education classes “are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, [and] 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident” (Newman & Shell, 2015). This study highlights how driver education reduces the number of deaths that result from driving when teen drivers are the most vulnerable. The ideals of safe driving must be instilled into teen and adult learners alike. Understanding, the rules of the road and the devasting effects of not following them is key to safe driving.

To help reduce the number of deaths related to driving there are multiple steps that can be implemented. First and foremost, there needs to be increased emphasis on the dangers of driving under the influence of not only alcohol but various types of drugs, including cannabis and related products. Driving under the influence of any of these substances is extremely dangerous because of the impairment of your reaction time. Moreover, the evolution of technology has allowed for more hands-free use of things like cell phones and smartwatches. However, even hands-free, the use of anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road needs to be addressed. That split second that drivers spend looking at their phones can be the difference between safe driving and a preventable accident. I remember taking the five-hour driving course that is required for people to get their driver’s license in my state. Even though many of these topics were covered, they felt very distant and unrelatable. The addition of teachers who have experience with the effects of unsafe driving would be very valuable for these courses. By sharing their experiences, young inexperienced drivers would be able to see the consequences of unsafe driving in a tangible way. There are also different routes to getting a driver’s license in different states. For example, in Nebraska, to get a driver’s license after completing driver education courses or driving under adult supervision, student drivers must drive safely for a full year before they are granted their full driver’s license (Newman & Shell, 2015). This system provides extra emphasis on the value of safe driving. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, driver’s education must continually be updated to include modern threats to safe driving, speakers should be brought in to express the effects of unsafe driving in a tangible way, and more states should utilize a process to obtain a driver’s license that emphasizes the rewards of safe driving.

Although I would consider myself a safe driver, I have been in two car accidents. The first was right after I got my license. I was turning left at a light when another driver ran the red light, crossed the double yellow line, and turned right into my car. My sister was in the car with me and the damage to both cars was minimal, but I will never forget that feeling. I was worried for my safety and the safety of my family, as well as for the safety of the other driver. The second accident occurred while I was driving down a suburban road when two deer ran into the street. Thankfully because of everything my mother taught me about safe driving, I did not panic or swerve and so only my car was damaged in the incident. After pulling over to the side of the road, I remember gripping the wheel while my mother inspected the damage. I felt frozen in place knowing how lucky we both were that I had stopped in time to only clip one of the deer and that the other drivers on the road responded appropriately so that no one got hurt. Even though both these incidents were years ago I still actively avoid driving in those spots.

These were both relatively minor incidents but coupled with a lifetime of messages from my mother, they made me dedicate myself to safe driving. When my maternal uncle was only eighteen years old, he was hit by a drunk driver. That accident left him in a wheelchair, with limited movement skills and a brain injury. Before I started driving, my mother told me the story of what happened to him even though I had heard it before. When I began driving it had a new meaning to me. That is why I strongly believe that safe driving is taking responsibility for the safety of yourself as well as others on the road. Driving under the influence or driving recklessly just because you can, can change your life and the life of anyone involved in the accident irreparably.

Every time I get into a car, I strive to be a safer driver. When I was younger my parents told me that if I was ever unable to drive that they would pick me up with no questions. Now that I am older, I have extended the same offer to my friends. Before we go out, we always set a designated driver. If anything happens and they are unable to drive, we all pool to pay for ride shares or call other friends who can help us. Whenever I see any of my friends driving unsafely, including doing things like speeding, I always speak up. An accident is a price to pay for not being willing to speak up. I also work to encourage safe driving with my friends who are working towards getting their licenses. I share tips for safe driving that I have learned over the years and answer any questions they may have. My favorite tip to share is one my mother taught me. Driving during the winter can be very difficult where I live. The first winter I had my license, my mother took me to an empty, icy parking lot. She told me to hit the gas and then hit the brakes so that I could see what it was like to skid and how to control it. It was scary at first, but after attempting it multiple times I began to build confidence. To this day I can control my car when it is skidding because I have muscle memory of what to do. These are only a few steps that I can take to be a safer driver and encourage safer amongst my peers.

Safe driving is a commitment. All the little things involved in driving, looking both ways at a stop sign, ensuring everyone in the car is wearing their seatbelts, and ensuring the speed limit is followed no matter what can all be done to be a safe driver. The importance of safe driving can never be underestimated. It can save your life and the lives of those you care about.

References

Newman, I., & Shell, D. (2015, August 13). Study: Driver’s ed significantly reduces teen crashes, tickets. Study: Driver’s ed significantly reduces teen crashes, tickets | News Releases | University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study:+Driver’s+ed+significantly+reduces+teen+crashes,+tickets#:~:text=Young%20drivers%20who%20have%20not,an%20accident%2C%20the%20study%20showed.