Don’t be a Fool, Driving Safe is Cool

I got my license at sixteen, but I was so scared of driving that I did not drive on my own until I was eighteen. I felt like operating a vehicle was a lot of responsibility, and I did not want to put my life or anyone else’s at risk. It was around this time when my mom got a job at the Utah Highway Patrol Office. It was her duty to look at accident photos. It severely impacted her. She would preach to us about the importance of safe driving and would often repeat the phrase “don’t drive stupid”. Driver’s education is crucial and teaches the rules of the road. The likelihood of a crash occurring is increased if an individual has not taken the driver’s education course. Driver’s education helps you gain experience before you are out on the roads. Many places have driving ranges that you can practice on to ensure that the driver knows how to operate a motor vehicle.

There are numerous steps to take to reduce the number of driving-related deaths. The first would be to always wear your seatbelt. Seatbelts dramatically reduce the risk of death and serious injury while driving. Seatbelts should be worn by everyone in the vehicle to lower the risk of being ejected out of the vehicle. Distracted driving also contributes to a lot of driving-related deaths. Talking, texting, singing, and eating are all considered distractions. Lowering the number of distractions in the vehicle can help reduce the risk of a crash.

I was in a car accident a year after I started driving alone. I was following a car too closely, and they slammed on their brakes. I did not have enough reaction time to stop the car, so I swerved. I lost control of the car and spun around, hitting a semi-truck. There were two people in the car, my friend and I. Luckily, we were unharmed. That experience changed my life and the way I drive forever.

Ever since my accident, I have been an over cautious driver. I never follow a car too closely. Two car lengths is the appropriate amount of space to keep between you and the other car. I follow the posted speed limit and slow-down in extreme weather conditions. Speeding is another big culprit for accidents. People are going so fast that they do not have enough time to react if something changes. Speeding does not only impact the driver but everyone else around them. It is important to remember that safety is more important than getting to a destination quickly.

I helped my younger brother, Jayson, get his license. I have told him how important it is to drive safely. Driving alone can be exciting when first getting a driver’s license, but it is important to eliminate distractions and drive the posted speed limit. I have told my brother to never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is not worth risking his life or the lives of others. I would much rather he call me or an Uber if he was not sober. My other brother, Ty, is nineteen and just got his learner’s permit. He did not feel the urge to drive because he does not trust other people on the road. He has been reading the driver’s handbook to ensure that he knows the rules of the road well. He does not want to be responsible for ending someone’s life. He is a very cautious driver and always has his eyes on the road. He never speeds and always makes sure that everyone in the car has a seatbelt on before he shifts the car into drive. If more people were like Ty, the number of deaths on the road would be significantly reduced. A step that I recommend for drivers who have had their license for a while is to take a refresher course every couple of years. There are numerous refresher courses online to help drivers remember the rules of the road.

No one is above the rules of the road. It is not cool or trendy to disobey them. What is cool is being safe. Safe driving not only reduces the number of deaths each year but also reduces the chances of getting a ticket. It is crucial to do our part in making the road a safe place to drive. Eliminating distractions, driving the speed limit, driving sober, and wearing a seat belt are great steps to take to become a safe, reliable driver on the road.