The Importance of Safe Driving

The Importance of Safe Driving

Reaching the milestone of turning 16 is very exciting for boys and girls all across the country. Being able to have freedom to drive wherever you want whenever you want is something every teenager looks forward to. The buildup of excitement comes from waiting years to finally have freedom and a sense of independence.There are many responsibilities that come along with getting your license, however, some teenagers don’t fully understand these. Over the years, many families have reaped the consequences of distracted driving. Teenagers seem to be involved in the majority of these distracted driving accidents, so they need to be educated before getting their license. There are two very important things teenagers need to be educated about before getting their license: how to practice safe driving habits and the dangers of texting and driving.

Distracted driving is very common across the country, but it is especially seen in teenagers. The feeling of freedom is what drives teenagers to get their license. All teenagers have to take driver’s training in order to get their license, but once they are able to drive by themselves, they seem to forget the most important things they have been taught. Distracted driving is a major topic teenagers are taught about, specifically the dangers of it. When driving, a teen’s biggest distraction could be their cell phone, the radio, or even worse, their friends. Distractions from passengers in the car can be very dangerous. The driver is not only responsible for themselves, but they are also responsible for everyone else in the car. Practicing safe driving habits is very important to keep the roads safe for everyone. Identifying your biggest distractions is one way to make yourself a safer driver. If you know what distracts you the most, you will be more likely to avoid those while you are driving. Another way to practice safe driving habits is to put away any electronic device that could cause any distraction to you before you begin driving. If all teenage drivers did some research on the dangers of distracted driving, there would be less accidents.

The most dangerous example of distracted driving is texting and driving or using social media. Teenagers use their phones for many things, especially to communicate with other people. Teenagers don’t have much driving experience, so it is even more important that they keep their eyes on the road. Over the years, the rates of texting and driving related accidents have gone up significantly. Some states have even passed laws against texting and driving in hopes of showing people just how important it is to practice safe driving habits. Some phones also have a driving mode that you can put your phone in, so your notifications are silenced. Many advances have been made with technology in order to promote safe driving. These are just two examples of things that can be done to encourage teens to not let their cell phones distract them while driving. Many teens think they are invincible and that nothing bad will ever happen to them, however, that is not the case. Overall, educating teens about the inherent dangers of distracted driving is the best way to lower texting and driving related accidents.