Drivers Ed Top 4 Safety Tips

Driving, as we know it, is one of the most popular public forms of transportation. In the US alone, it is projected that in the year 2023, 243.4 million people will be licensed, according to Hedges and Company. Out of that 243 million, on average, around 6 million people get into a car accident every year, with more than 90 people dying in car accidents every day, according to driver knowledge. That’s around 2% of all licensed drivers every year that may go into a car accident, whether fatal or not. With this, it is clear that learning defensive driving and knowing the proper rules on the road are exceedingly important for the safety of society.

Some of the first steps in ensuring a safer, more successful drive include putting on a seatbelt and especially putting it on correctly. A seatbelt should be worn with the shoulder belt worn over the chest, and the lap belt is placed on the upper thigh or just below the hips. A seatbelt is significant in making sure that in the case of an accident, the person driving or the passenger does not project through the car, which would essentially cause more harm. Putting on a seatbelt can prevent almost 50% of all car fatalities. So, make sure you buckle up tight!

Secondly, it’s important that you have helpful passengers in the car. Imagine that you’re driving with your friends- the person in the passenger seat is on the phone, and your friends in the back are extremely loud and distracting. You try to tell them to calm down, and bam! You’ve hit the car in front of you. When you are driving with other people, it is important that they aren’t overly distracting. Try to explain to your passengers the rules when they enter your car. Additionally, it is important to ensure that the person in your passenger seat is someone you can trust to keep their eyes out on the road, and not on the phone. Having helpful passengers can ultimately decrease your chances of getting into a car wreck.

Additionally, it is also important to ensure that you, yourself, aren’t distracted. In today’s day and age, everyone has some sort of cell phone to keep them company. Unfortunately, these technological advancements are one of the leading causes of car wrecks. According to Bankrate, 400 fatal crashes happen each year as a result of texting and driving, and the number goes up to 30,000 when considering all kinds of distracted driving. When you’re driving, you should put your phone on silent. In the case that you may believe it is an emergency, it is suggested that you pull over somewhere safe to retrieve a call. Some cars today allow for your phone to connect through Bluetooth, which allows you to call and drive in a “safer” manner. However, even with this feature, it can still cause a distraction, as you are less likely to focus on the road. To add, you also shouldn’t wear headphones in the car. With the growing popularity of wireless headphones, like AirPods, many people may want to listen to music privately. However, wearing wireless headphones can distract you from actually hearing what’s going on, such as honking or warnings. Wearing wireless headphones is starting to become illegal nonetheless, so it is heavily discouraged. If you do decide to wear headphones, make sure you wear only one with the volume being minimal.

When driving as well, make sure you are well rested and not under any influence. It is guaranteed that there will be some days in which you may be extremely tired, whether that be because of getting up early, going to sleep late, or simply because of extensive work. When it comes down to these situations, you are at an increased risk of micro-sleeping, which can eventually lead to a car accident. According to the AAA foundation, 16.5% of fatal car crashes occur because of micro sleeping. In this case, if you feel exhausted or tired, make sure you pull to the side of the road and take a 5-10 minute nap. Additionally, you should also ensure that when you take prescription pills or drink alcohol you do not go driving. No matter how much alcohol you drink or how many drugs you take, it still affects your decision-making skills and your ability to defensively drive. Around 30% of all fatal car crashes occur due to drunk driving, according to NHTSA. If you decide to drink or take drugs, ensure that you have another form of transport, whether that be public, or have another driver that is sober.

To conclude, defensive driving stems from mostly individual actions. At the end of the day, it is your individual responsibility to ensure that you are in the correct mindset and follow the correct rules on the road to have a safer driving experience. With the 4 topics discussed above, you are guaranteed to have decreased the risks of driving. Therefore, we should expand drivers-ed and ensure that these subjects are taught to reduce accident fatalities.