Looking Back, Going Foward

Looking Back, Going Forward

How can something like driving a vehicle be dangerous? I used to think that no matter what you do, there is no way that you can’t notice things that are directly in front of you. I thought this at the young age of eight. It was not until I was involved in a car accident along with five other members of my family that I had a change in thought. My sisters, my cousin and I were on our way to spend time at my grandmother’s house for the summer. My aunt was driving her car, with one working headlight, with all of us kids in the backseat. We did not think much about the car’s headlight because she has driven it before and claimed that she could see fine. While on the road, we were watching movies until we ran into a car in the middle of the road. The car had no lights on and was apparently stuck in the road. I knew it had to be bad because the ambulance was on the scene. All of us were then all put on stretchers and taken to the hospital for our minor injuries. Luckily, we all came out of the accident with no injuries. It was because of this experience, that I started taking driving precautions seriously. I realized that things like seatbelts, blinkers, flares, and et cetera are all important in order to be safe while driving.

Since I just got my own license, I have had the chance to drive myself and others as well. Things that I have noticed drivers do is turn when asking things, move around phones while driving, and speed on the highway. To be safe, drivers must get rid of these bad habits and distractions. They have to be cautious and alert and rid themselves of controllable distractions so that they are constantly aware of what is happening around them on the road. Being taught the importance of driving safely will reduce the number of vehicle-related deaths. If drivers always pay attention and are cautious plus courteous, then accidents like the one I was involved in will not happen.

The most important thing drivers need to do, to reduce the number of driving related deaths, is to pay attention. They must pay attention to the road and take away any distractions. This means no phones, food, or excessive use of the car’s gadgets while driving the vehicle. Drivers must put phones in the back seat or out of sight while driving since they cause many distractions. The incoming calls, notifications and texts on the phone causes them to light up and draw a driver’s attention away from the road. Another driving distraction is consuming food. Drivers should wait to consume food at their destination instead of trying to steer and eat. Excessive use of different gadgets is also a driving diversion. Examples of excessive use of gadgets are constant handling with the car’s audio, mirrors, and temperature controls. The best thing to do is to complete all adjustments with the car’s gadgets before takeoff to prevent unnecessary disturbances. Taking all these interferences away will allow the driver to notice important things like a car pressing the brakes, a person trying to walk, or an animal in the road. Along with paying attention, it is also important to be courteous to help reduce accidents.

Courteousness is key to driving safety. It is crucial to watch for pedestrians. When pedestrians have the right of way, a driver must make sure to let them pass before continuing to drive. Other pedestrians on a bike, scooter or a skateboard, must also be looked out for. Although they may not have the right of way, still be courteous of them by staying 3 feet away. While watching for pedestrians, drivers must also be careful of other cars.

Paying attention to the cars around is the most important thing for a driver. Drivers must watch for cars switching lanes, braking, and cars with their hazard lights on. They must follow the rules of the road and signal when switching lanes, follow the speed limit, as well as follow a number of other traffic laws. If the driver had been cautious and turned on his lights, then my aunt could have seen him stuck on the road. At the same time, if my aunt had been careful and fixed her car before using it, she could have seen the car better. Luckily, the accident was as bad as it could have been since other laws were followed. We all had on our seatbelts and my aunt was going under the speed limit of 70 mph. If any of those precautions and rules were not taken, then it may have resulted in a fatal accident. All drivers should be courteous and follow the rules of the road, as well as and pay attention by getting rid of distractions.

The rules of the road are very important to learn and understand in order to prevent a crash or accident. The steps of paying attention and being courteous could prevent an accident like mine. I, while driving, will always make sure to be courteous, follow the rules of the road, and pay attention. I do these things because they protect myself and others from danger. If anyone around me is not following the rules of the road, is distracted, or not paying attention, then I will always educate them about it so that we can all be safe. This will aid in the effort to decrease the number of driving accidents.