Hitting the Brakes on Death

Driving is a highly stressful process for numerous people. There has to be a sense of alertness, because the risk of others is the one I fear most. On the road, there is a responsibility from each driver to be safe while operating a vehicle; it is like a social contract of drivers. Thousands die every year from distracted driving, and the number one cause of the distraction is our phones. There is only so much we can control while getting from place to place, and turning off cell phones is one we can easily do. We have a privilege to be able to drive. People should not take it for granted with their lives or the lives of others. Driving is not something that I have come to enjoy, but is a task I endure in my daily routine.

There have been several times where I have been driving where I have been put in situations where drivers are about to hit me head on. Thankfully, I have never been in a full force collision, but every scenario is crazier than the last. Between people being on the opposite side of the road due to texting and U-turns in the middle of a busy intersection, I am surprised that I have not encountered worse. I have seen young and older people texting while driving, and the stereotype that it is only young drivers is insensitive. In my personal experience, I have seen more of the adults in my life participating in the dangerous activity rather than any of the people my age that I go to school with. Every time I drive, I drive with the mindset that I could seriously injure myself or someone else if I do not follow the basic laws on the road. I tend to find myself more unaware when people are riding behind me too closely, a car ahead of me is swerving, or when I have to take risky decisions to get away from visibly bad drivers. My distractions are built off of anxiety, because I do not want to crash. Distractions are not only products of our phones. Some people have their music too loud in their cars. It is fun to sing to music, but doing so while trying to focus on the road ahead can lead to dangerous repercussions. Other issues include tiredness, eating food, pets, and even other passengers.

Educating people on how to be a safe driver can make a significant difference in how people approach the road. One of the most impactful lessons during my drivers education lessons were the videos of people running red lights; the different speeds indicate that going slower does not always reduce the impact of another car. I also was able to feel a lot of sympathy for people who had talked about their kids or friends who have died from distracted driving. There are various simulations that teen drivers can witness before they start driving that makes the reality seem more real. Our school did a mock crash where emergency personnel demonstrated what drunk driving can lead to. Students acted and planned the scenario, and we all walked up on what looked like our friends ejected from the seat of a car. They were able to teach the importance of wearing a seatbelt, driving sober/non-distracted, and how long it takes to actually respond to a crash. Altering perspectives through meaningful lessons creates a lasting effect on how drivers will view driving safely.

All being said, I can always practice defensive driving techniques to protect myself and passengers while I am operating a vehicle. I can ensure I am focused before I open my car door, and I am never too tired or emotional. Checking my car’s features is also a small step I can do to make sure that I will never have any malfunctions or concerns while driving. I always turn off my phone and put it out of my reach while driving. I let my parents know where I go, so they can be sure I get there safely. I also try to consider whom I let into my car. There is no reason that other people cannot respect the effort someone else is putting in to drive from one place to another. If someone is being loud, it is okay to ask them to not be as intrusive to one’s focus. Education is a huge factor of how people drive, and it could save the masses. People who drive recklessly, distracted, and inconsiderately are usually in a rush, however I am in no hurry to die.