Driving Safety

Getting a driver’s education is very important, especially for young drivers. Teenagers that go through Driver’s Ed are more likely to be safer drivers because they learn and get tested on the rules of the road. They know how to manuver a car while driving, parking, etc., and know how to drive safely to avoid crashes. Not only do they learn the basic driving rules, but they also learn important maintenence skills, like changing a tire. Driver’s Ed also offers one on one time with instructors to help perfect your driving skills. It’s important to always be practicing your driving skills, and it’s even more beneficial to get feedback from instructors.

One of the number one ways to avoid the increase of deaths from driving is never get behind the wheel when intoxicated or not sober. Many car crashes happened due to drunk drivers, so if you are ever in that situation, call a friend to pick you up or call an Uber. Going off of that, make sure you’re never texting and driving. It is easy to get distracted by your phone while being on the road, but your safety and the driver’s around you safety matters more than a text message. Another way is to always obey the laws while driving. Always stop at the stop sign, follow the speed limit and check your mirrors frequently. Also, always make sure that your car is functioning properly. For example, that your brakes stop correctly, your tires have enough air and that you can see through your mirrors. Little things like that could affect how you drive very quickly.

Personally, I have never experienced being in a car crash, however, I have experienced some of my family members drive irresponsibly. None of my family members have driven intoxicated, however, they are irresponsible when using their phones while driving. Many of my family members have busy lives because of work. Yes, work is a priority, but safety comes first. They sometimes text while driving and it can be nerve racking sometimes because you never know what’s going to happen. Also getting honked at happens a lot and it isn’t very pleasant. Honestly, a little reminder to put their phone down usually does it, and we are able to drive safely.

To be a better driver, one of the main things to do is putting my phone on do not disturb while driving. I’ve found that it’s way more beneficial so that I don’t check my phone when I get a notification. I also like to set the radio to what I want to listen to, or put my favorite playlist on so that I am not trying to change the music while driving. Although music makes the drive a lot more enjoyable, it can also become very distracting so making sure that it’s not at a super high volume also helps too. Another thing is to make sure that I have everything set to my liking so that I don’t try to fix it while driving, for example keeping the climate control or adjusting the seat so I can reach the wheel. When the weather conditions are bad, I make sure that I am driving slower than usual so I don’t skid, or have my windshield wipers on at the correct speed so that I can see. The last thing is to make sure I always use my signals because personally, I don’t like it when people don’t indicate what direction they’re going, so I make sure I do that for the driver’s around me. That also allows other drivers to take caution in their lanes or switch lanes safely if need be. Always keeps your eyes on the road, because at the end of the day, you are responsible for whatever happens to your car and your safety is in your hands.