Drive Undistracted, Save Your Life

Driving is a vital aspect of everyday life in America. With poor public transit in most parts of the country, the average citizen needs a car more than other countries. This means more people on the road and it creates more chances of getting into wrecks, sometimes fatally. It is important that every person behind the wheel is well versed in the laws and procedures of the road. Too many times a driver will see a sign that is not commonly used and not know how to respond. A round-a-bout is also a challenge to those who do not normally come in contact with them. Whoever is driving will come to a stop at a “Yield” sign when it is not necessary. Some even stop in the middle of the round-a-bout not understanding who has the right of way. These are all very unavoidable situations, but if a wreck were to occur, it can cause unneeded stress to their financial life and well-being.

Being up to date on the rules and regulations of the road is something you can do in order to improve you overall safety. I had the opportunity of my dad teaching me how to drive. He always hounded me about safety and the rules of the road. The advice which sticks out the most and still rings true to me today, was an acronym he taught me and all my siblings. The saying “All Good Kids Love Milk” has aided me significantly over the years while operating a motor vehicle. First, “Aim high in steering,” look at least a block forward and not right over your hood. This will ensure the car is driven straight. Secondly, Get the big picture, know what is going on. Try to anticipate the moves cars will make before they do. This will set you up to be prepared for anything. Next, “Keep your eyes moving,” don’t become static and lock in. Make sure your checking your blind spots and your mirrors. The fourth tip, “Leave yourself an out,” always have a lane where you can switch safely just in case someone makes a a bad spontaneous decision. Lastly, “Make sure they see you.” People are always distracted and may not see you. At intersections like stop signs, make sure to establish eye contact with the other driver before entering. This little trick will ensure you do not fall victim to someone not paying attention.

But arguably, the biggest factor in staying safe on the roads is to eliminate distracted driving. It is of the upmost importance for the driver to have all of their focus on the road. They need to be attentive to their surroundings and what is going on around them. There have been to many deaths due to someone on their phone texting, calling, or choosing music. None of these actions are worth losing your life. The CDC reported in 2018, there were 2,800 deaths due to distracted driving. What’s even scarier? The use of phones while driving and being distracted are widely considered the norm to do. Much like drunk driving used to be in the late 19^th century, there is little to no stigma attached to distracted driving. Most people do not treat the two actions the same. Surprisingly though, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than drunk driving. Another study stated that people texting had a 23% slower reaction time than drivers who were intoxicated. I feel like there is room to improve people’s knowledge of just how dangerous distracted driving is. It’ll help us take steps to reduce the number of car related deaths. The best way we can educate people on how dangerous distracted driving is to go to different High School’s across the nation and tell them the real facts. Going to schools allows us to talk to a large number of people which directly relate to the problem.

Safe driving means a lot to me. Because while I haven’t directly experienced a car accident or been in the same vehicle as any of my relatives driving unsafely, my Uncle has fell victim to this. Early in his life he and a friend were out driving, my uncle with his arm hanging out the window. They were both drunk that night and were driving on a gravel road. His friend was going to fast and hit some bumps on the road and overcorrected. The car started to roll. They were both not wearing seatbelts. As the car rolled, my Uncle grabbed the side of the door in order to not fly out of the car. The entirety of the vehicle was rolling on his arm. After they had gotten out he looked at his arm, and it had been torn to shreds. He knew he lost it the moment he saw the damage. His arm would be amputated later. My Uncle was lucky to have not died that night. It is never a good idea to get behind the wheel impaired. Safe driving needs to be taught and explained to more people, so that no one has to go through the pain of something happening to themselves or a family member.