Safe Driving

Driving is the most common form of transportation in the United States. Since it is so common, most people forget that they are driving a vehicle that can do a lot of damage if not taken seriously. The amount of people that have died in car crashes in America each year is more than the amount of casualties of US soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a clear issue that needs to be taken seriously by every American and it truly is embarrassing that this is one of the main causes of deaths. There should be more laws implicated so this number can steadily go down. There are easy ways for everyone to become a safer driver and be more conscientious of others on the road. There are many reasons that drivers tend to be distracted while driving. The main cause is the rise of technology.

Recently, a woman named Jacy Good shared her story with my high school. She was a victim of a high school student who was distracted by their phone while driving. As a result two people died and she was permanently injured. As a high school student, I can see the temptation to use your phone at all times yet, there needs to be a limit on the usage while driving. Although Apple has installed a “Do Not Disturb” setting, there needs to be more self discipline from the driver by putting their phone out of sight. An average person picks up their phone about 144 times a day accordinging to a study by Reviews.org. The number of the times a person picks up their phones increases exponentially when they see notifications pop up. If a driver decides to put their phone completely out of sight while driving, it would completely lower the risk of them having the urge to use it at all while driving. Recently there is a lot of technology being added to cars. This mainly includes the radio. With all the features that are set up, people are able to basically have access to their whole phone while they drive with Apple Carplay. This is a huge risk especially with young drivers that are tempted to reach out and be with their friends constantly. Seeing notifications and messages pop up on their screen while they are driving, allows them to wonder what they are missing. This applies to teenagers and adults

Another leading cause of driving casualties is driving under the influence. One thing that should be stressed to everyone more is to have a designated driver. Having a designated driver allows for safety of other people on the road along with the person who would’ve been driving. Many accidents that are caused by intoxication result in fatal crashes that can easily be prevented.

To help everyone become safer on the road, you should set an example. As you drive with your friends and family, you should take a few minutes to show them the safety precautions you take while driving. Just as children learn actions from their parents, new drivers will catch on to safe driving if they are properly shown. I by no means am saying I am perfect, but if you start to make safe choices a habit, you slowly will habitually make the right choice.

Another way the amount of casualties while driving can be reduced is by following the rules of the road. Stopping for each stop sign and putting your blinkers on. Simple actions that people take daily are cut short when they shouldn’t be. Taking each small precaution can save lives. Also, if you are in a different state, you should make sure that you know the rules of their roads because they might be different than the typical rules you might be used to.

It is also important to drive defensively each time you drive. This means scanning the other lanes and vehicles around you. If you can have time to swerve out the way then maybe you will save your life and the other person’s life. Also, don’t take someone else’s careless driving personally. If someone cuts you off or speeds around you, just ignore it. Don’t copy their careless actions because they could turn into a dangerous decision

Overall, the roads can be a safer place if people take time to remember the rules of the road, get rid of all possible distractions and set a good example. Although making these changes may seem annoying, they can save people’s lives.