Smart Driving Saves Lives

Distracted driving causes about 3,000 deaths per year, around 280,000 injuries per year, and about 920,000 total accidents per year. Distracted driving is any kind of activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the road when behind the wheel. Distractions can include cell phone use, turning around and even eating. As a new driver, thankfully, I have not developed distracted driving habits, and my goal is never to develop them. However, I have spoken with friends about their driving habits and know there are many potential distractions that can impede safe driving.

Safe driving practices and safety cooperation from all people on the road will help reduce the number of fatalities mentioned above. By raising awareness of how drivers can be safer on roads and highways, we can protect all drivers and ensure a reduction in fatalities. Safety awareness begins with understanding that there are precautions that drivers can take, that can ensure saving lives on the road. These are the same precautions I plan to implement as I continue to learn to drive.

One of the first things I can do to ensure that I am a safe driver is to always think safety first. This can be accomplished by doing things while driving like leaving plenty of space between my vehicle and others, wearing my seatbelt, and avoiding aggressive driving. As a new driver behind the wheel or even when riding with my parents, I now notice particularly bad driving that I didn’t before I began learning to drive. Things like cars driving extremely close and not leaving any space to stop or aggressive driving most often end in car crashes and fatalities, so I will make sure to avoid these.

Secondly, I must always be aware of my surroundings and pay close attention while driving. I can do this safely by consistently checking my mirrors, keeping an eye out for unpredictable drivers, being conscious of my blind spots, staying alert, and keeping my eyes and mind on the road to ensure I am prepared for anything. Moreover, most accidents that result in fatalities involve speed. To prevent this, I will keep my speed down. Maintaining proper speed, especially for weather conditions, is my responsibility. To make allowances for hazardous weather or road conditions, I will make sure to reduce my speed and increase stopping distance to accommodate for slippery roads. Driving too fast reduces reaction time, which causes a loss of control and often results in accidents. So, I will make sure not to speed.

One of the most important things I plan to consistently do is avoid and cut out distractions. Distractions happen when I pay attention to something else while driving. Driving requires my full attention, so to stay completely focused – I vow to put down my cell phone, not touch the radio, not eat, and make sure that if someone is riding with me, they know the importance of focused driving and limiting distractions as well.

In 2013, my family and I were involved a major car accident in the snow, when we were hit from behind by a truck driven by a distracted driver. I remember it vividly, because we were on the way to school. My sister and I were sitting in the back of the car eating our breakfast and watching a movie, when I remember a sudden slamming sensation and the feeling of being thrown forward. Thankfully, my family and the other driver walked away shaken up, but with minimal harm. This accident could have been avoided if the other driver had driven at a reduced speed for snowing conditions, paid attention to the road, and avoided distractions.

Lastly, a huge key to safe driving is educating myself on what safe driving is by taking driver’s education. Education and awareness are keys to operating vehicles in order to ensure safety on the roads. I’m going to encourage everyone that I know to take a driver education course. I can help others become safer drivers by sharing what I have learned, along with my best practices. I believe that awareness campaigns are needed to help improve safety on the roads. Creative campaigns are needed on social media, apps, and gaming channels. These awareness campaigns should deliver core messages that remind drivers that one of the most important things drivers can do to ensure safety is to avoid and cut out distractions, along with a few of the key things I mentioned earlier.

Driving requires that we all follow safety procedures and take the precautions necessary to help reduce fatalities and ensure drivers and passengers are safe on the road. Drivers’ education and awareness campaigns can help drivers learn and become aware of the steps and requirements necessary to be reduce accidents and facilities on the road. Most importantly, each of needs to make sure we are safe drivers ourselves. If each person is safe and accountable, the roads will be safe.