Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow

Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow

Have you ever experienced unsafe driving? Of course you have. Possessing a driver’s license comes with great responsibility—sadly, many drivers do not take this responsibility seriously. Being aware of the effects of irresponsible driving and learning ways to be safer on the road can save your life and the lives of people around you.

At the age of fourteen, my parents enrolled me in a summer Driver’s Education course. In this course, I learned the rules of the road and how to be a defensive, rather than offensive, driver. Defensive driving is anticipating hazards on the road in order to minimize risk and avoid accidents. Gaining experience on the road is a crucial part of learning how to drive, as well as observing the habits of others on the road. Knowledge of others’ habits while driving plays a vital role in reducing accidents and, therefore, diminishes deaths as a result of driving.

One summer a few years ago, I had a personal experience with a car accident. My mom was driving my little brother home from an activity when a young woman hit their vehicle at an intersection. Exiting her car, shocked, the young woman claimed that she thought she could make the turn through the intersection before my mom’s car approached. Other than a few scrapes and strained muscles, nobody was seriously injured; however, everyone involved suffered noticeable emotional harm. In this instance, defensive driving could have been utilized to anticipate the closeness of the oncoming vehicle, and waiting an extra ten seconds to turn through the intersection.

In an attempt to maintain safety on the road, precautions can be taken to minimize the risk of a car accident. Simply wearing a seatbelt could save a life. Taking time to make sure your car is in proper condition before venturing into traffic is another wise precaution. This could prevent any issues or malfunctions in the car while you are driving. I know this is a statement that is often overused, but make sure to use turning signals. When you are in a heavy-traffic situation, warning others of where you are going is a wise resource to utilize. Also, and this may contradict popular belief, but speed limits are in fact not a suggestion. Speed limits are put into place to ensure safety to drivers, as well as pedestrians, and should be taken seriously. Being able to recognize factors that have the potential to cause hazardous situations is critical when preparing for a journey on the road.

In order to fully, genuinely understand the effects of reckless driving, one must have experienced, or know someone who has experienced, a particular event. However, anyone can prevent dangerous situations on the road by taking the proper precautions both before and during a trip. No matter how long you have been driving, basic safety measures are essential to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.