Drive safe, smart, and efficiently

A study from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln showed that young drivers who have not completed a drivers education program are 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident. That study proves the importance of drivers education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Drivers education teaches you the standard rules and laws of the road as well as what to expect while driving. The program helps you be prepared for drivers tendencies and show you how to be a smart and responsible driver.

There are many steps you can take to protect yourself and others on the road. For one before you even begin driving you should consciously realize that you are handling a very heavy vehicle that can be dangerous and even fatal if used improperly. Another step is taking your time to set the radio, cooling system, or gps to your preferred setting. It is important to do this because you will be distracted if you try to adjust things while in the process of driving which is the last thing you want. An additional step to take is making sure you obey traffic laws, that means especially to avoid drinking or any mentally altering drugs. This is one of the most important points, according to the NHTSA over 10,000 lives are taken from drunk drivers and that is absolutely inexcusable. Even if you think you are fine and you haven’t had a lot to drink, it is extremely dangerous and potentially illegal if you have to drive.

I have been involved in an accident due to driver irresponsibility. When I was 14 years old I was headed to a tutoring class, when I arrived at the tutoring center I realized it was a one way road. My dad pulled over to the side but since I was in the front passenger seat I had to get out on the side closest to the road. I patiently waited to exit at a time when it was safe, there was a small bus that turned the corner as I was getting out and the driver was busy looking at her phone. As I was getting out the bus hit the door of my car and took it off its hinges and barely missed me. Right then and there I could’ve been seriously injured or even killed because of driver distraction. Thankfully I came out unscathed and only the car was damaged but that just shows how it can only take a second of irresponsibly and distraction to potentially take a life.

A few steps that I can and will be taking to become a safer driver is making sure I stay within the speed limit when driving. Sometimes I start driving faster than the limit because I am late to an event or I just want to get somewhere faster. Writing this essay has reminded me that being somewhere on time is not worth the risk. As for helping others one thing that I do that helps ensure safety to other drivers is flashing my lights/high beams when I want to let a car switch into my lane. Overall driving is a necessity for most people in today’s day and age and it should always be done safe, smart, and efficiently.