The Importance of Driving Safely

When you take and pass the driving test, for some it is an opportunity waiting, for others it is a freedom and for many it is more practical and needed by their family dynamic. First and foremost, safety for yourself and for others comes first when operating a vehicle. Too many people get behind the wheel with a mind full of distractions. Distractions can be stress, kids goofing around or crying in the back seat, cell phones, texting while driving, gps systems and radio/car functions. One large distraction is a person’s emotions, whether it be anger for losing his/her job, sadness while driving to the hospital to visit a loved one who is dying, or an overwhelming joy but to the point of it completely controlling their mindset. When we get behind the wheel, we need to be free of these distractions. It is a definite challenge as things happen day to day, but we need to remember that we hold others’ lives besides our own in our hands when we get behind the wheel. Distraction free driving is one way to be safe on the road.

Another impairment that affects safe driving is insomnia/sleep deprivation. When you do not get enough sleep, your mind experiences drowsiness and that can cause you to be less attentive on the road. This can also cause slow reaction times when braking and steering your vehicle. Getting an average of 7-8 hours of sleep can help better the risk of being in a car accident. If you are sleep deprived and are behind the wheel, there are some things that can help keep you safe; listening to others, paying attention to any/all signals from your body that tell you you are too tired to drive, pull over and take a nap, switch drivers, taking frequent breaks, and drinking caffeine can help if you are already in a sleep deprived state. Because of how serious sleep deprivation can be, two states New Jersey and Arkansas have instituted Maggie’s Law. Maggie McDonnell, a college student, was killed in 1997 by a 30 hour sleep deprived driver. Maggie’s Law defines a driver as being “knowingly fatigued” if they have been awake for 24 hours or more. An individual getting their rest has never been more important to driving safety.

More than over 10,000 lives are taken from their loved ones every year due to drunk or impaired driving. An average of 32 people die everyday in an alcohol related accident. That comes to about one person every 45 minutes. A driver is considered over the legal limit with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.08. This is another safety concern as we are on the roads. I personally worked with someone who was in an auto accident that was alcohol related. My co-worker passed away in the accident and had killed a family on their way to a vacation by hitting them head on, going the wrong way. As angry and as frustrated as I am, I struggle to understand “How and Why”? How did others let her get behind the wheel having a BAC of 0.164? Why did this happen to her and that family? It could have been avoided by pure responsibility. My co-worker was a CMA who was looking to go into another field in the hospital and maybe go back to school. I did not know her outside of work, but I did know the person she was during the day. It took me a while to get past my anger and emotions to understand this horrible and awful tragedy but I did come to an understanding that this incident did not define the person she was. She made a terrible decision, but it did not take away the kind and caring person she was. But unfortunately, others will define her by that one horrific tragedy, the one that if just one person would have taken her keys, said something, it all could have been avoided. Everyone would have been safe. This is another example of why individuals shouldn’t drive impaired, distracted or irresponsibly.

Lastly, it is most important to know the rules of the road and to drive defensively. Simply understanding the meaning of being a safe driver is being alert, understanding your environment and the condition of the roads, and being ready physically and mentally to take action when needed. Some things you can do to keep safe on the road are keeping your vehicle maintained, obeying the speed limit, using your seatbelt and mirrors properly. We need to remember that we are not alone on the road and we need to share it with others.

If we drive with responsibility, accountability, a defensive strategy, common sense, and follow the rules of the road, it should make for a safe driving experience. Driving safely on the road means no tickets, insurance costs stay low, and you reduce the chance of you getting into an accident. Individuals need to remember to limit distractions and to not drive impaired. Safety begins with us and we are in control of how we drive on the road. It is important to be safe on the road and to help others remain safe on the road as well.