Responsibilities of a Driver

Sofia Belanger

11/12/20

In the Driver’s Seat

There is a lot of responsibility that comes with driving a vehicle of any kind. Motorcycles, trucks, sedans, and even four-wheelers are seen on the road every second of every day. No matter what vehicle a person drives, there is always the possibility of getting into an accident. The more experience a person has driving, the more likely they’ll encounter or be in an accident on the road. It is the responsibility of the driver to avoid this situation at all costs.

One way of avoiding this situation is to stay alert when behind the wheel. Staying alert at all times can prevent crashes of any kind. Changing into another lane or going onto the expressway requires the driver to keep their eyes on the road. Yes, some vehicles have a “cruise” feature where the car won’t drift but, It is still important to focus on getting to any destination without distractions. Being distracted can not only affect you but the drivers around you.

One look away from the windshield can result in major consequences. It can cost someone’s car or even someone’s life. Unfortunately, many people continue to drive while being intoxicated. Being intoxicated while driving can affect your attention span and your sense of hearing. This happens mostly among the younger generations because they attend parties where alcoholic beverages are served. People must plan out who will be the designated driver because if both the driver and passenger are intoxicated, it won’t be safe for either of them to take the wheel.

Environments like that are the cause of peer pressure because if most of the people are drinking then that can cause a person to do the same thing. That is the reason why the U.S. extended the minimum drinking age to 21 because younger generations arent’t as responsible. It is best to refrain from drinking at such a young age because it doesn’t benefit you or anyone else. One way to help someone is by seeing the signs. If a driver sees another driver swerving, going over the speed limit, or driving very slow, that might mean one of two things.

The driver is either intoxicated or fatigued. If a driver appears in either state, then another driver should report them to the police. Drivers like that are a danger to others so they should be reported to prevent a car accident from happening. Another situation that can be avoided is getting a DUI. A DUI is a penalty that isn’t an easy payout.

The more penalties, the more money the driver will have to pay overtime. A few years ago, my sister and I were in a car where the driver was intoxicated. The driver was going above the speed limit but thankfully no one was hurt. My sister and I were young so we didn’t know how to approach the situation. The more safety measures considered, the safer everyone will be.