Responsibility At Its Finest

Kasey
Hanes

Responsibility
At Its Finest

Driving
is a huge responsibility that takes up a large portion of people’s
lives. Due to this fact, being educated in very important in ensuring
the safety of both the driver and everyone around them. Knowing the
rules of the road allows safer travel because they were created to
protect people to begin with. As a result, there are less accidents
and fewer deaths due to car accidents.

An
article by Jackie Kass from “Drive Smart Georgia” tells us that
the AAA Foundation performed a study that drivers ed is related
to reducing crashed by 4.3% and convictions by about 40%. Any
decrease in the number of crashes is a decrease in the total deaths
caused by accidents. The same passage states that 95% of all car
crashes are caused by driver error. Therefore, if drivers are
educated, they are severely less likely to be the reason an accident
has occurred.

The
most important ways to stay safe on the road are those most difficult
to follow. Obeying traffic laws is the easiest way to stay protected,
but that is only truly beneficial if everyone does so. However, there
will always be impatient, careless, or distracted drivers that will
interrupt the flow. When driving it is critical to be predictable and
let others know the intentions in mind as it helps them prepare for
what is about to be done. Distractions are one of the leading causes
to accidents. The phone, the makeup, the food—it can wait. Being
well rested for driving can be a make or break deal. The driver must
be alert to everything around them. As someone who has experience
with an accident, I wish that drivers ed provided lessons on
what to do when in that situation, being pulled over, popping a tire
on the highway, or plainly explaining what to do in times of crisis
on the road.

I
myself have been in a car accident, and I was the driver. I was
switching lanes while at a light to get into a turn lane quickly when
a car suddenly came speeding up the lane with no intention of slowing
down for the newly appeared red light. Not only was my mistake
trusting that somebody would stop for a red light, but even though I
looked three times, I made the poor decision to try and switch lanes
to begin with rather than simply continuing the way I was going
safely then proceeding to turn around. Being in an accident is a
terrifying situation, and I could not imagine being in a fatal one.

To
improve my driving safety, I should control my distractions and put
them on hold until I safely arrive at my destination. When I am in
the car with other people, I need to keep the driver’s attention on
the road and ensure they abide by the driving laws that were only
created for their safety. Phones must be put on silent, speed limits
must be obeyed, education on how to be safe on the road must be
provided to all.