4 ways to Drive Safely

“Your mother just got into a car accident.” When my grandfather told me those words, my heart sank. I had been visiting his house till she got off work. She was on her way to work the last time I saw her. She always makes it to work safely. What happened? How did this happen? Is this real? A thousand questions ran through my head, but all I could ask was, “Is she okay?” He responds with yes, but he has to meet her at the hospital. Luckily, there were no broken bones, but she did need bandages because she hit her head badly on the steering wheel. She could have died. Don’t text and drive. This instance helped my mom realize the importance of not using her phone when driving. There are many ways to be safe while driving, and I’ll be sharing four of them.

Number one, don’t text and drive. Texting and driving is extremely dangerous, and the advancement of technology does not help. Drivers research has shown that 45% of people have texted or used their phones while driving, and 400 fatal car crashes happen each year due to texting and driving. Imagine that, you’re driving home after a long day of work, you’re ready to get in bed and relax, maybe feed your dog, cat, kids, but because someone glanced at their phone for what may have seemed like 5 seconds. You are now rear-ended and being rushed to the hospital with a wrecked car. Now imagine you are the one who rear ended the other. First, you owe fines for texting and driving, and you may have a lawsuit to deal with, depending on how badly they were injured. So the next time you think about responding to that text message while driving, think about whether it is worth your life or another’s.

Number two, wear your seatbelt. According to seat belt statistics for 22,215 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2019, 47% were not wearing seat belts. Your reason for not wearing a seatbelt, whether it’s because it’s “uncool”, “uncomfortable”, or you just don’t feel like it, does not amount to the fact that seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45%. Given that car crashes are a leading cause of death in America for people ages 1–54, wearing a seatbelt should be a priority and cuts the risk of serious injury by 50%. Not wearing a seatbelt allows the possibility of you being thrown into a rapidly opening frontal airbag and such force could injure or kill you. Going forward if you see a family member or friend not wearing a seatbelt, politely correct them and then remind them of the importance of wearing one.

Another way to stay safe while driving is to not drink and drive. Drunk driving statistics show that about 37 people die daily in the United States from drunk driving crashes. Drinking and driving not only puts you in danger but everyone around you as well. That includes anyone in your vehicle, the cars driving past you, and anyone your car comes in contact with. The consequences of intoxicated driving is not only lives but also fines. If caught drunk driving, you will face jail time, be charged with a DUI, be fined $10,000 in legal fees, and possibly lose your license. To avoid these consequences, it is suggested that if you plan on drinking wherever you are, if not at home, you have a designated driver. Your designated driver should always be sober, and if not, make sure to have ride-sharing apps downloaded for a plan B.

Number 4, watch out for pedestrians. A rule taught on your first day of driving, the pedestrian always has the right of way. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, as of 2022 7,508 pedestrians had been killed. This is the highest number of people since 1981, averaging at about 20 deaths per day. Which is why it is highly recommended not to be distracted while driving. It is easy to miss a person when you’re talking, texting on the phone, or even eating. All eyes and focus should remain on the road because even a minor distraction could risk someone’s life.

Driver safety is efficient for living a safe and healthy lifestyle. So remember, don’t text and drive, wear your seatbelt, don’t drink and drive, and watch out for pedestrians. When you drive responsibly, you not only save your life, but you also save the lives of thousands of other people.