Driving Safe – Driving Smart

There’s nothing like driving; it gives you this sense of freedom when you first start. However, one false move and someone lose his or her life. It’s not a comfortable thought, but the topic can not be avoided if safe driving is to be a reality.

We all were told at some time not to text and drive, and even though many may be tired of hearing this, it can not be emphasized enough: texting and driving is a dangerously fatal practice and the math proves it. According to Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), texting while driving takes the driver’s focus off the road for about 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of blindly driving at 55 mph for 120 yards-the length of a football field. Traveling such a long distance in such a short amount of time while not paying attention to the road can have deadly consequences, and it has had deadly consequences. In 2016, 3,450 people nation wide were killed in car crashes that involved a driver who was distracted by texting.

However, texting and driving is not the only possible distraction. A 2015 survey found that young drivers admitted to being distracted by brushing their teeth or changing their clothes while driving, as well as 1/3 admitting to texting while driving.

Texting, brushing teeth, or changing clothes are not the only fatal mistakes young drivers make. A 2016 survey from State Farm found that teens involved with car accidents were more likely to speed, not wear a seatbelt, or drive under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

When driving, it is important for everyone to put safety first, or else there will be consequences. Young drivers need to take better care to focus on the road at all times, to obey the law, and consider their own lives, the lives of other drivers, and the lives of potential bystanders. Some may be tired of being told to be safe on the road, but when human lives could be hanging by a thread, this message will always be repeated.

To before you buckle up and start up the car, here are some tips for safe driving to think about:

1: Do not text or use your phone. Instead, give your device to your passenger or wait until you arrive at your destination.

2: Do not allow yourself to be distracted by texting, music or the radio, changing clothes, brushing teeth, searching through a bag, eating, or other activities.

3: Stay focused. Driving is not a social event. It is a mode of transportation. Stay safe!