The Importance of Safe Driving

Allie
Wilson

27
March, 2020

The
Importance of Safe Driving

There
is no greater pain than the loss of a loved one. Each person can do
their part to avoid automobile accidents by partaking in driver
education and ideally, greatly reduce the number of deaths due to car
accident deaths daily. One should never drive on any road without
receiving proper education on safe driving techniques, and this can
be accomplished through online programs such as Joshua’s Law,
drivers’ ed. Classes, and many hours of practicing safe driving.

A
few months ago, I was in a car wreck with my best friend. I was in
the passenger seat while she was driving. She was going 45 mph in a
45 mph speed zone when she glanced down at the space between her
steering wheel. Suddenly, we entered a school zone with a speed limit
of 25 mph. Although she was looking down for only a few seconds, we
were going much too fast and quickly approached a car at a dead stop
in front of the school. By the time either of us noticed, we were
going to fast to avoid a collision. We hit a still car going 48 mph,
totaling her car and damaging not only the car she hit, but the car
in front of that car as well. I vividly remember the airbags
deploying and hitting me so hard in the chest that it threw my head
back and knocked the wind out of me. My ears were ringing and the
potent smell of smoke from the collision clogged my nostrils. I
looked over to see my friend weeping and hyperventilating. I was in
shock. Thankfully, no one was hurt besides a few bumps and bruises,
but it had a great impact

on me. Ever
since, my friend always keeps her sole focus on the road when she is
driving, and I have followed suit to avoid a similar situation.

That day I truly learned the
importance of complete focus on the road while driving. It is
imperative that drivers keep any cellphones or tablets completely out
of reach while driving. I also seldom mess with the radio unless I
know there is no risk to myself or others. One of the most important
things to prevent serious injuries or deaths in an accident is
wearing your seatbelt. If either my friend or I was not wearing a
seatbelt that day, we would have thrown through the window, which
more than likely would have resulted in death. I know my friend
wouldn’t have been able to live with herself if anything were to
happen to me, or to the person she hit. And I know I would have been
completely traumatized if she would have gotten hurt as well.

Things as simple as being aware
of your surroundings, maintaining the speed limit, wearing your
seatbelt, and avoiding distractions can not only make you a safer
driver, but also help to avoid accidents resulting in serious injury
or death. The more people to practice these precautions, the safer
the roads will eventually be and the lower the risk of automobile
accidents.