The Importance of Safe Driving
by Rick Suttle
There are all types of drivers on the road, from teenagers to the elderly. Everyone on the road is supposed to be licensed. Unfortunately, a driver's license does not always ensure common sense and responsibility on the road. Safe driving is crucial because things can happen behind the wheel in a split second.
Significance
There are more drivers on the road every year. Traffic can become extremely congested at times. It is important for one to stay focused on driving and not become distracted by texting, talking on the cell phone or changing the radio station. Between 2000 and 2005, about 42,000 people died each year on roads and highways in the United States.
Function
Safe driving means obeying the speed limit and traffic laws, not driving too closely to the car directly in front, driving slower during rain and inclement weather, and avoiding alcoholic beverages and certain medications before hitting the road. All of these safe practices can decrease your odds of being in an accident.
Identification
It is important to drive safely because it can save your life, help avoid hefty fines or imprisonment for traffic violations and keep your insurance premiums lower. In some states, a person who incurs too many drinking violations can be pilloried with a different-colored license plate (for example, yellow in Ohio).
Effects
Safe driving can entail off-road precautionary measures such as making sure tires are properly inflated, testing windshield wipers, getting regular oils changes and tune-ups and adjusting the mirrors. All of these actions can help prevent an accident.
Considerations
Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Safe driving is important enough for some states to consider raising the driving age to 17, 18 or 19.
