In the Driver’s Seat

It’s a common sight in the US to see people use their cars as their primary means of transportation. It’s also one of the main things synonymous with American culture. According to Statista, about “76% of American commuters use their own car to move between home and work, making it by far the most popular mode of transportation.” But unfortunately, this car-centric culture that the US is known for does come with its own set of challenges. From finances, maintenance costs, and everything in between. But one of the more significant risks comes from driving the vehicle.

Just like in everything we do in life; we must learn how to do things before doing them. And in the case of driving, it’s cardinal that we understand the importance of driver’s education. I say this because driver’s education provides the fundamental basis for learning how to drive for potential drivers. Not only does it help educate new drivers about current driving skills and local laws, but it helps them practice proper driving etiquette. When we develop a society of drivers that understand basic driving etiquette like slowing down at a yellow light, not being on the phone while driving, and giving priority to pedestrians crossing a road, among other things, it creates a safer environment for both the drivers and the pedestrians in the surrounding area. As a result, it produces a reduction in the number of deaths, car collisions, and injuries.

Although if drivers ever want to create a safe environment for driving, it’s important that we get rid of the mindset that the rules don’t apply to us just because nothing has ever happened to us. What I mean by that is that it’s important to hold ourselves accountable for our actions because, in life, the most unexpected things can happen within a matter of seconds. Steps that we can take to help reduce the number of deaths in relation to driving is to maintain focus on the road and your surroundings. We often put ourselves at risk of hurting ourselves due to being distracted while driving like being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and texting or viewing something on our smartphones. In addition to that, the simple rule of just putting on a seatbelt. A lot of people overlook the benefits that a seatbelt has in possibly saving your life from a life-endangering event. So, saving a few seconds of your time to put on a seatbelt can make a difference between life and possible death.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon in the news to hear about the latest car accidents happening every day in any local area in the United States. I am fortunate enough not to have experienced any car accidents within my own personal life. But I have witnessed numerous times when my close relatives have driven irresponsibly. Some of these actions that I have experienced in regard to driving irresponsibly aren’t motivated by the sole purpose of doing it to harm others or themselves intentionally. My close relatives usually don’t think too much about it because they assume that everything “we’ll be fine”. I’ve noticed that a lot of them would always check something on their phone whether it’s a notification or a “quick” scroll through social media. Along with speeding through a yellow light and not giving priority to a pedestrian. These simple actions that look harmless are actually the type of actions that put them, along with the people around them, at risk of being in a car accident. Furthermore, it gives off red flags of irresponsible driving behavior.

Fortunately, there are solutions to these common mistakes that we see within the driving community. To start, it’s important that we distance ourselves from our mobile devices like our phones. Especially in the modern age of technology, the use of smartphones while driving is one of the most common motives that result in car accidents. To add on, it’s vital that we’re mentally ok to be driving at the moment that we drive. Many of us drive when we’re exhausted, or under the influence of alcohol, among other things. It’s crucial that we prioritize our mental health and well-being of ourselves first before anything else. In addition to that, it’s critical that we address our own driving skills and behavior on the road. Realizing our issues when driving on the road whether it’s not putting a seatbelt on, or disobeying speed limits, among other things is key to helping us fix our mistakes and to keep ourselves in check with our driving skills.

In summary, it’s important to understand that driving is a privilege, not a right. And it’s critical that we understand the risks that we have for ourselves and those around us when we abuse that privilege by driving irresponsibly. Being a safe and educated driver allows us as a society to develop a safer environment for ourselves, other drivers, pedestrians, and our surroundings. As a result, this will influence a safer driving culture in the US for the next generation of drivers.