Are your Engines Ready?

In the United States, there are around 3 million car crashes yearly. This statistic is frightening due to the fact that it demonstrates immense likeliness that it could happen to yourself or someone you care for. Anytime a driver sits behind the wheel of a vehicle, they inherit a chance to potentially ruin someone’s life if proper precautions are not taken beforehand. Everyone has heard about the occurrence of car accidents on the news, through friends, and even on social media. However, a newfound perspective slaps you in the face when you get a call that one of your loved ones had been in a catastrophic car accident.

Drivers Education is a program that is offered as a free service through my local high school. Enrolling in this service opened my eyes to the positive aspects of driving, but it also enlightened me of the negative effects. This course made me understand certain statistics that correspond with car accidents. It covered substance abuse, drowsy driving, and the dangers of speeding. However, even though I got the luxury of participating in this course not everyone is given the same opportunity. Driver’s education is something that should be instilled within the core of every academic institution due to how many lives it could potentially save. Being taught warning signs of dangerous driving really helped me quickly mature as a young driver. The values taught in the initial driver’s education course offer immediate exposure to the hazards and responsibility of operating an automobile are something that could save many lives.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving accidents it takes education, and the ability to recognize notable dangers. Firstly, it pays off to always wear your seatbelt. A seat belt is your first major line of defense once you become the victim of a car crash because it works to protect your bones and internal organs. Whether you are operating the vehicle or you are a passenger, a safety belt should always be worn. Secondly, it is important to be properly educated on the dangers of driving while under the influence. It is best to be able to identify warning signs such as unstable walking, slurred speech, and foggy memory. It is always important to intervene in these situations and keep the individual off the roads. To avoid this situation you can designate a sober driver, call an Uber, or call a family member for a safe method of transportation.

Furthermore, in order to keep roads safe, it is essential to educate young drivers on every situation that they may encounter while driving. It is ideal to train young drivers in all weather conditions, night hours, and different intensities of traffic with an experienced driver. Having a learner’s permit is an amazing time to teach young drivers about all of the experiences they may encounter while driving on their own. This point is a crucial stage of development for young drivers.

Before you operate a motor vehicle it is best to understand the responsibilities that you are assuming. One simple mistake could be deadly to others on the road. It may sound scary, but ending dangerous car collisions starts with you. To learn more about how to drive safely you can visit your local DMV sites, government agencies, and independent organizations that try and prevent car accidents. Also, before you begin a drive every driver should ensure that their vehicle is in proper shape to travel on the road. That includes having functional breaks, mirrors, and can handle certain weather conditions. Education and equipment checks are simple ways to ensure the safety of yourself and travelers on the roads around you.

I vividly remember the October evening that my mother was involved in a tragic car accident. I was sleeping soundly in my bed whenever my father came into my room and told me to get dressed and come into the living room. I recall being very confused when I saw my grandparents and my aunts and uncles in my house in the middle of the night. My mother worked night shifts as a nurse at our local hospital, so it wasn’t uncommon for her not to be home until late in the evening. I remember sitting beside my grandfather while he explained to me that my mother had been in a terrible car accident and that my father had left to follow her to the hospital. I remember feeling a pit drop deep in my stomach, I just never thought it could directly affect me. My mother had been driving home from work and a car had malfunctioning breaks and couldn’t stop at the stop sign. In turn, my mother’s car was completely totaled and she was severely injured. When talking about car accidents and safety my mind always travels to the image of my mother in a hospital bed with my three-year-old sister by her side bawling.

In conclusion, driving is a wonderful and essential characteristic of our world, but it has its risks just like everything in life. With a combination of proper education and training, everyone has the potential to become a good driver. As a driver you should always remember that car accidents are personal and can devastate many families. On your next drive make sure you buckle your seatbelt, put the phone down, and evaluate your surroundings because someone’s life could ultimately depend on your decisions.

Citations:

Irvin, Kay. “Car Crash Statistics.” Bankrate, Bankrate, 29 Mar. 2021,

https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/car/car-crash-statistics/.

Windsor, Matt. “The Benefits of Buckling up: Seat Belts Save Lives.” The University of Alabama

at Birmingham, UAB Magazine, 1998,

https://www.uab.edu/uabmagazine/seatbeltssavelives#:~:text=Why%20Seat%20Belts%20Work,drivers%20and%20front%2Dseat%20passengers.