The secret to successful safe driving

There are over 30,000 deaths by car per year in the United States, highlighting the importance of driving safely, which has become overlooked. Identifying and fixing such issues can create a safer world, especially on the roads.

New drivers are always being thrown information and told to be careful; after a while, the advice stops, and the new drivers become your everyday person on the road. They begin to get comfortable sending that one text or glancing at that one notification. It is crucially important to educate current and young drivers on safe driving to reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. Distracted driving is the number one reason car accidents occur. Distracted driving is a huge problem on the road. New, current, and even former drivers have all done it or will do it. Sometimes it is an important call or text, but is it more important than your life? Or others? According to Rachel Bodine,“ We found that the deadliest age group on the road are drivers aged 25–34, followed by teens and young drivers aged 20–24.” found in a study of what age group has the highest car accident rates. Young adults and middle-aged people, who we assume are experienced drivers, have a high accident rate. This further proves my point: we must use education to lower the chances of an accident. There are times when the accident won’t always be your fault; you may be a victim, which is even more reason to educate all who have or are gaining a license.

There are many ways to spread awareness about driving safety; here are a few that I believe would be the most effective. Utilizing technology, ads on TV or social media gauge the severity of car accident fatalities. For these ads to reach all drivers, they would be shown on various websites, social platforms, in the mail, and even on cable TV. Specifically on apps like TikTok or Instagram, where thousands of people are active for hours a day. The ads that would be circulated through social media would have content like changing the driving perspective, which is a privilege but one you have to be mindful of. Also, ads about general driving safety information, for example, a quick tips website that has very brief but important information about how to, or what to look for on the road, and how to drive safer. Likewise, we use our phones for many things; why not use them to keep yourself safe? Phones that have car play and do not disturb when you’re driving will automatically send a message to whoever is calling that you’re driving and silences your notifications. Also implementing drivers courses in schools or online classes that talk about the risks on the road and how to avoid them, and even publishing books on this topic. Lastly, every driver should be respecting the rules of the road; they are there for a reason. These rules keep all people on the road coordinated and prohibit accidents if you follow them correctly. This idea would make room for reflection as a driver, younger kids would think about who they want to be as a driver. Adults would reflect on how they have been as drivers and adjust their ways. We must implement these ideas because they don’t only affect you and me; they affect us. If it’s in your face, you can’t ignore it. When you keep repeatedly seeing it, you will become accustomed to it and retain that information, whether you want to or not. If we implement these ideas we can create a culture of safe driving and awareness of traffic rules which would result in a reduction in accidents.

There have been many times I’ve witnessed drivers in my life and on the road driving irresponsibly. During those times, I was younger and thought you drove with both feet, but now that I’m older and have experience driving I know that it was a dangerous position. I was in a minor car accident when my mom was driving. I was in the passenger seat, and my two brothers, 3 and 5, at the time, were in the backseat. We were driving through an apartment complex parking lot when an older lady, who was not paying attention as she had a stop sign and did not stop, hit the back right door of our car. It made a loud enough bang that we all knew there was damage done to our car. Immediately, she pulled into the nearest parking spot. She looked up at us through her windshield as she apologized profusely, but that didn’t change the fact she hit our car on my baby brother’s side and left a visible dent in the door. If she had been going any faster, who would have known what could have happened to him? My mom rushed to check on him; he was fine. She apologized even more once she saw kids in the back seat. I do not know exactly why she was not paying attention, but I do know that driving a car and not paying attention ahead of you is not responsible driving, no matter what. Furthermore, my uncle is a prime example of a comfortable driver; he’s been driving for 10+ years and even used to work for NJ Transit. At times. It feels as if the rules of the road do not apply to him. Making U-turns in no U-turn area and parking in no parking zones. This is a risk not only to himself but to others in the car and those on the road. Not only that, the texts and drives; although he has gotten better at not doing it so often, it’s the fact that he does it at all. Now I could go on and on about all those in my life that do this, but there’s no need when this has become a widespread issue in which many drivers still engage in this dangerous behavior.

Guilty as charged on the road I don’t always follow the speed limit and could pay better attention to others on the road. I become so engrossed with myself driving safely that I forget everyone else on the road isn’t actively trying to do that as well. I will maintain a distance of space from the cars in front of me allowing myself room for a safe reaction time in case the vehicle in front of me stops abruptly. I will make sure to follow the speed limit and pay attention not only to myself but other drivers. Also refraining from distractions, such as texting, calling, or adjusting the radio and unnecessary glances in my mirrors.

You never think it could be you—the one who gets into an accident that could threaten their life. So we drive recklessly with that thought in our minds. It is important to remember that accidents may seem unlikely, but they can happen to anyone. Therefore, we should try our best to follow the traffic rules and prioritize responsible driving not only for ourselves but others on the road too.