Every day, there are millions of people driving on our roads. While driving seems to be a normal part of life, the fact is that it actually fairly dangerous if done irresponsibly and an accident can cause severe consequences. As a teenager, you don’t have as much experience driving, which means you are more vulnerable to make mistakes that could get you killed or seriously hurt. So what do you need to avoid while driving?
Drowsy Driving
Did you know that, according to the National Sleep Foundation, there are similarities between driving drowsy and driving drunk? If you are drowsy, your reaction time will be slowed and you might not notice things you would normally see. If you think you are too tired to drive, ask a friend for a ride, call your parents, or take a nap before you go.
Being Distracted
There are a lot of distractions you might experience while driving, but all of them can put you at risk for an accident. Eating, drinking, changing the music, adjusting the heating/cooling, messing around with your friends, and texting or talking on your cell are just some of the many distractions you might be faced with. You might feel you’ve been driving so long now that you can deal with one or more of those things without a problem, but your life isn’t worth making the mistake and taking a chance.
Speeding Up at a Yellow Light
The yellow light does not mean “speed up to beat the red.” It means stop if you can in a safe manner. You don’t want to risk it and zoom through only to get t-boned in the process, especially when the situation could have been avoided. There are usually people waiting to turn left, and they may not see you coming, or you may leave them stranded in the middle of the intersection when the light changes. Just stop. You can wait a few extra minutes.
Driving while impaired
According to Alpert Schreyer, approximately every 30 minutes, someone dies in an alcohol-related crash. Drinking and driving is no joke, especially as a teenager. You aren’t legal to drink and you can seriously hurt or kill someone while you are impaired. Don’t ever put yourself in a situation where you will be tempted to drink and drive. You may feel invincible, but you definitely aren’t.
Speeding
Speeding, in general, isn’t a good idea, and it’s even worse if you’re speeding during bad driving conditions such as if it’s raining or snowing outside. Driving at an unsafe speed isn’t going to do you any good, especially if you get into an accident. We all have places to go, but the goal is to get there safely.
You can’t control what other people are doing, but you can protect yourself to the best of your ability. It may seem cool to show off for your friends, but it is much better to get to wherever you are going alive.