The first time I sat behind the wheel, I thought driving was about freedom, but the more I drove I understood why my father always said, “driving is a privilege, don’t take it for granted.” The more I drove the more I learned; it was also about being aware of yourself, what is going on inside the car, and most importantly what is going on the road. The slightest decision, it is just a quick text back while driving too slow down at a yellow light can make so much of a difference and save countless lives. Drivers’ education is such an important thing when it comes to operating an automobile. So many deaths on the road come from the ignorance of safety rules while driving; 39,000 to 43,000 people die from motor vehicle accidents per year. It is important to properly educate yourself before getting behind the wheel to bring that five figure number to zero. There are many measures we can take to reduce deaths from car accidents; here are some examples.

 One of the easiest ways to prevent death on the road is by limiting distractions inside the car while driving. As humans it is in our nature to take on more things at the same time once we feel that we have mastered a task. Individuals feel so comfortable in our driving skills we think it is okay to be less aware on the road; certain drivers, including me, like to text and pick up phone calls while driving. Others feel it is okay to take a couple bites of their burger or drink a sip of water while operating a motor vehicle; that is not proper driving. In those slight 5-10 seconds of you doing whatever you are doing a car could have made a turn you were not expecting. A kid could have run into the middle of the road as soon as you took a bite of your food. Even changing the radio station. It does not take long for an unexpected change to happen on the road. If you or others around are not constantly aware and focused on the road, it can be a tragic ending for everyone in proximity. To prevent this from happening, make sure your distractions are at a complete zero while driving. Try to eat before you get in the car or wait until you have reached your destination. Set up a good radio station where you can just ride and listen without having to make any changes. Use auto answer for incoming calls or just not answer the call. Most importantly, do not touch the cell phone. That is how I got into my first car accident. My brother was coming home from the military, and he was in a hurry to get picked up from base. At first, I did not answer the call because I was driving but he just kept calling. As soon as I looked down to answer, I ran into the back of a car. Luckily there were no fatalities, but it could have all been avoided if I didn’t answer the phone call

Secondly, be cautious of your mental state before deciding to drive. Alcohol and other drugs influence our reaction time, our coordination, sense of direction, and vision. All which you need when operating a motor vehicle. Personally, I feel if you had anything to drink or used any drug that affects your five senses you should not be driving at all. But legally the limit of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08%, for regular vehicles and 0.04% for commercial vehicles. Regardless of that if you are not in the perfect mental state to be driving, call a friend or order an uber. Also being cautious of your mental state does not just revolve around being under the influence. It also means regulating your emotions. People can get very overwhelmed with emotion, anxiety, excitement, anger, or sadness. Whatever overwhelming emotion it is you should take a breather and remember you are about to drive. Have a clear mind and still stay focused on getting to your destination safely.

Finally, leading by example. It may not seem like too much, but it plays a key factor. Especially when you are in the car with future car operators. Preventing deaths in car accidents is not just an individual choice. We should all set a good example by wearing your seatbelt properly, speaking up on improper driving, and following the rules of the road. The number of fatalities will start to decline once people take driving as a shared responsibility, rather than for personal convenience.

Safe driving begins with learning about road safety and obeying traffic laws, but it also involves much more than just these basic steps. Being aware of yourself and surroundings, staying focused and sober, and encouraging proper driving makes so much of a difference in reducing the number of deaths caused by driving. Remember driving is a privilege, do not take it for granted.