The Safety Principles of Driving are Essential to Saving Lives

Starting to drive in high school is a very exciting time. Getting to
drive to school, being able to drive yourself to hang out with
friends, it’s almost like a whole new world is opened with the gain
of this freedom. During this excitement, safety is not always on the
mind of most first-time drivers, resulting in consequences. During
school I often hear different stories of my peers getting into car
accidents attributed to different reasons, but these can all be led
back to the failure to follow safe driving principles. Therefore, the
education of safe driving is vital to lowering the amount of
accidents and deaths.

The education of all drivers is essential in keeping everyone safe.
Basic rules that are taught in programs such as drivers ed
like staying three seconds behind the driver in front of you,
following the speed limit, and keeping your phone put away are just
three of the many rules of driving that save lives. People often
forget these rules, or don’t get the opportunity to take driving
classes. Either way, there is a lack of safety which endangers
themselves, and everyone around them. The slight difference in
following safe driving practices versus not following them is what
results in accidents. As a driver, you must make the effort to bridge
this gap of safety knowledge in order to lower the amount of driving
casualties.

Both of my parents have been driving since they were in high school,
so there was no doubt in my mind that they were good drivers because
of their experience. In 2017, on a normal drive home, my family was
driving up our street and getting ready to pull into our driveway. In
order to make the right turn easier, my parent turned out into the
left lane first, and then steered the car towards the driveway.
Suddenly, a car behind us crashed into the side of our car as we were
turning into our driveway. My parent ended up not using a turn signal
so the car behind us thought we were turning to the left. This shows
how something as simple as not using a turn signal on a turn you make
every day can result in accident. Meaning that the education of
driving principles and safety cannot be ignored, no matter how simple
they can be.

As drivers, in order to maintain the knowledge of safe driving
principles we must remind ourselves and those around us daily about
the simple things everyone can do to ensure the safety of themselves,
and others on the road. Drive everyday as if you were trying to pass
a driving test to earn your driver’s license. Take the time to take
the essential safety measures. Put your phone away before you start
driving, allowing you to be attentive to your surroundings, give the
car in front of you the appropriate amount of space, follow the speed
limit, and use your mirrors and turn signals when making a turn.