The Power of Knowledge

What would be the result of having a doctor try to design a roller coaster? Calamity. A teenager trying to take off their own braces? Disaster. A florist trying to build a robot? Debacle. In each scenario, someone attempts to do something that they’re untrained for. Each situation results in ruin, frustration, and possibly even death. This is exactly what would happen if someone were to attempt driving without being educated on the topic. Sure, it seems easy enough, but what will basic knowledge do if you don’t respond correctly to a dangerous situation? Not knowing the rules of the road can lead to serious consequences, such as fines, imprisonment, and even death. Knowing the rules of the road, eliminating distractions, maintaining a cool temperament, and eliminating stress could all aid in reducing the number of deaths related to driving. According to the CDC, 1.35 million people are killed on roadways around the world each year. By one person doing their part to prevent a crash, they could potentially be saving many lives, including their own. That’s why I practice safe (and defensive) driving each time I get on the road. When I was a freshman, on the first day of school, I missed the bus and had to get a ride from a senior to the soccer fields. When she picked me up, the first thing I noticed was that she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. The second thing that I noticed was that she had the radio turned all the way up. While these things were concerning (and made me feel slightly uncomfortable) I didn’t think much of them, as it is (unfortunately) something most people do when driving, and I, a freshman, wasn’t going to lecture a senior about wearing a seatbelt when she was kind enough to give me a ride. The biggest red flag was when we started moving. Almost as soon as she took her foot off of the breaks, she took out her phone!! She started scrolling through instagram, liking messages and responding to DM’s, all before we had even left the parking lot. And don’t get me started on once we left the parking lot. Once we were on the open road, she started speeding, and still was on her phone. I was terrified, especially when we were on a curved street, on top of a hill. To top it off, she drove a jeep wrangler with the doors taken off. Not the safest vehicle out there. Freshman me was more than a little traumatized. Talk about a shocking first day. From that day on, I watched who I accepted rides from, and that experience reaffirmed my beliefs about vehicular safety. Unfortunately, there’s not much we can control outside of our own actions, but it’s helpful to start out with ourselves, and just be aware of others when driving. The most we can do is spread the word about safe driving and try to raise awareness. Always pay attention to the road, and be on the defense. Iit is of utmost importance for drivers, both young and old, to familiarize themselves with the rules of the road. This can include taking classes or reading the state’s driving manual. Merely passing the permit test isn’t enough to ensure safety. Having a deep understanding about the rules of the road could possibly save lives and greatly reduce the risk of crashes. Do you really want to be one of the 1.35 million people who dies on the road each year?