Seeing another day

People receiving education on drivers’ safety decreases the amount of deaths caused by car accidents and maintains the number of people attending dinner every night. Having drivers’ education is important because as human beings we are constantly learning. We all remember learning how to ride a bike and scraping our knees and hands until we knew how to balance on a bike. With learning how to drive the consequences of being irresponsible and not paying attention can be a lot more severe or even deadly. That’s one reason why learning about drivers’ safety saves lives. Another reason is because part of learning is through experience. Being able to experience scenarios and how to react without the potential consequences is beneficial to saving lives and maintaining that safety.

One step that I find critical to increasing safety while driving is eliminating distracted driving. Distracted driving can take many forms such as texting, calling or changing music. With that being said it is impossible for us to multitask. We may be able to switch between tasks very fast but we simply cannot do two things at the same time. And, why distracted driving kills is because we don’t react fast enough when we focus back on the road. So, by taking away distractions we take away the time it takes to react. In moments where we need to react fast seconds can be the difference between life and death. Steps that can be taken in order to prevent distracted driving can look something like texting everyone before your departure so they know what your doing and there will be no need for communication while driving. Taking five to ten minutes before driving to finish your meal can also help prevent eating and driving. Before driving setting up a radio station or your favorite playlist before departure is crucial. We all like to enjoy music while driving but changing songs or finding a good radio station while driving could mean that you will never be able to listen to music again. So, find that playlist or station and enjoy your drive so you can have the opportunity to drive again.

Another step-in order to reduce the number of deaths in relation to driving can be using the proper safety mechanisms. Cars have seat belts for a reason and we should all use them for their intended purpose which is to save our life. Making sure children are in the proper safety seats and properly strapped into those saves their life as well if something were to happen.

One last step in order to increase safety while driving is the proper use of turn signals, maintaining a safe speed limit, and double checking everything. When we are driving, we don’t know where anyone else is going and what they are doing. Using turn signals is an important part of maintain drivers’ safety. Making sure to let other drivers know when you are turning and switching lanes helps keep you and other drivers safe. When we are driving maintaining a safe speed limit also helps prevent fatalities. Driving at a slower rate of speed means you can stop faster. So, staying at the properly posted speed limit signs or below helps keep you safe by if something were to happen you aren’t going too fast in order to not have enough time to stop. When stopped at stop signs or switching lanes checking twice or even three times can prevent a crash. So, by taking an extra two seconds you are saving your life and someone else’s.

I am grateful to say that personally I have not been in a car crash. But unfortunately about six months ago my mother was ran over by a truck because he was distracted and didn’t stop at a stop sign. Because of this distracted driver she suffered two broken legs, a shattered ankle and a minor brain bleed. I am thankful that it wasn’t worse and that she is still with us today. Upcoming on six months she is still using a walker and has permanent nerve damage which she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Just because someone was distracted and didn’t stop at a stop sign she now will forever have metal rods in her legs and constant pain. Car crashes only take seconds but the consequences on them last a lifetime. I never would have expected something like this to happen just like everyone else. But the sad reality of it is these things do happen, but they are all preventable.

With these severe accidents being preventable I take steps every time I get into a car in order to stop them from happening. I buckle up every time I am in a car, I don’t use my phone while driving, I make sure I am not eating and driving, and I make sure my music is playing so I don’t have to mess with it while driving. Whenever I am in someone else’s car I make sure that if I see them participating in any distracted driving or not driving safely, I tell them to stop and remind them that it’s not worth it and id rather get to the destination.

Getting to a destination is the entire point of driving. So, by taking steps to drive safely ensures that you will get to your destination.