Safe Driving and Good Driving Habits

Safe Driving and Good Driving Habits

Student driver education is one of the most important things to teach, and one of the most important things to learn due to the fact that student drivers are most likely the cause of most highway accidents and fatalities. It is very important to educate drivers not only so that they may keep themselves safe on the road but also to keep others safe. If every person who were to get into a vehicle knew the laws and how to obey them, the roads could be a much safer place. In most places, one cannot legally drive without their license and thorough drivers education, but there are people who forget certain rules that can in other ways be life saving.

Some steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths while driving could be strictly enforcing car safety such as buckling your seatbelt and being responsible with music volume, to mandatory driver education check-ins when a license expires. Keeping drivers informed and up to date on new traffic laws can create a much safer roadway for young drivers as well as older ones. It may also be of note that the car should be kept in continuous good shape. Although not all accidents can be blamed on car companies or auto service, a part of road incidents can be linked to brakes failing, safety features malfunctioning, mechanics installing things wrong or putting on incorrect parts. In respect to that, a driver is also responsible to make sure the vehicle they drive is safe. That included driving with the right tires for different weathers, replacing brakes and windshield wipers when needed, and committing to regular oil changes. Some may argue this can be rather expensive, but in fact, car maintenance is not as expensive as a car wreck. Circling back, I do not think that people are aware of how much a seatbelt could save someone’s life, or that a seemingly minor thing like music volume can block particular senses making a driver less aware. I personally tend to listen to the radio off, or at a lower volume in order to become more aware of my surroundings and other drives. Most teens today are more inclined to break rules about music, eating while driving, and cell phone use while driving, therefore creating bad habits for themselves and dangerous situations for other drivers.

I have been in a few situations of unsafe driving but two easily come to mind. Driving home after school with some friends on a bright and snowy day, we were turning into my driveway as a pickup truck that was driving behind us blew past our car nearly smashing into the rear passenger side door, right where I was sitting. This incident was to no fault of the driver I was with because he did everything he was supposed to. His phone was in the center console, out of sight while he was driving, and he used proper turn signals when slowing down and indicating he was turning into a driveway. The other driver must have not been paying attention and saw the car slow down so they decided to go around us without realizing we were mid turn. This leads me to believe the other driver was distracted and practicing dangerous driving habits. At that moment, I felt unsafe but not at the fault of the friends I was driving with, but due to other drivers on the road. Another time I felt unsafe was when I was driving with my sister, though this time it was her fault. I was in the passenger seat and she was driving to school, distracted and on her phone. I suggested to her multiple times to put the phone away but she insisted she was fine and I was overreacting. We were turning left into the parking lot of the school and while my sister was on her phone, she didn’t see that she was turning too close and was about to hit a stopped car head on. It was difficult not to have an “I told you so” moment, but instead I asked her if she still felt like the phone wasn’t a distraction to which she replied by putting the phone away.

There are many different paths to take in order to become a better driver. For one, a driver can regularly refer back to the rules of the road to make sure they are up to date. Another, is a driver should always practice good driving habits in order to keep themselves safe and the other drivers around them.