Stephanie Hunley

Health 110

Fall 2007

Dr. Kandi Qualls

Monday, November 19, 2007

 There are some things in life that are necessary for the daily routine, but can be

dangerous if precautions are forgotten in the day to day hustle and bustle. Safety is

defined as the condition of being safe, freedom from danger, risk, or injury. After

completing the Comprehensive Health Assessment, there were several areas that

needed my attention for improvement and safety awareness. Personally, I have

decided to improve on my motor vehicle safety. Today, many people take driving lightly

with little awareness of the great responsibility issued with the coveted driver’s license.

After researching many different health safety issues in my daily life, I decided

that motor vehicle safety could have the greatest affect on my life. In chapter sixteen of

the health text books, there is a list of motor vehicle safety tips for drivers. After reading

over the list, I realized that I only seriously conformed to four of the fourteen tips. I am

familiar with the traffic laws, always buckle up, look carefully before changing lanes, and

never drink and drive. But there are ten other tips that I do not abide to one-hundred

percent of the time. My car is not always in the best mechanical condition and does not

contain a first aid kit. Sometimes I do not follow the speed limit, keep my radio at a

minimum level, give pedestrians the ride-of-way, be especially careful at railroads and

intersections, alter my driving during bad weather, drive defensively, drive well-rested,

and avoid distractions (Hahn). Obviously, a safety plan is needed to become a better

driver.

In 1996, there were over 6.8 million car crashes reported in the United States. Of

these crashes, there were over forty-two thousand fatalities and 3.5 million injuries

(Lyznick). There are so many distractions while on the road today. Cell phones, fast

food, radio stations, and road rage are a few of the many driving distractions that plague
the interstates. A driver that uses a cell phone while on the road is over four times more

likely to end up in a car crash (Redelmeier). Evidently, the enabling of distractions in

motor vehicles is not worth the risks of harm that come with them. Not only does poor

driving have negative affects on the driver, but the passengers, other car passengers,

and the surrounding environment can be endangered by irresponsible driving.

After some serious deliberation, there are three preventative steps or

interventions to make my driving a little safer. First, I should create a good driving

environment in my car by eliminating all the distractions from with in. By maintaining a

reasonable volume level on the radio, I will better hear the traffic outside the car. I could

also reduce the use of the cellular telephone while driving, by making calls before and

after each trip. Also by being well-rested, I can become a more alert driver (Lyznick).

The second safety preventative step would be to abide by traffic laws.

Unfortunately, speeding is prevalent in my driving habits, especially on long trips. If I

were to leave earlier to decrease the urgency of the trip, it would be easier to slow down

and lighten my lead foot. For many years, motor vehicle crashes were the leading

causes of death in children from six to twenty-seven years old. In 1983, only fourteen

percent of car drivers wore seat belts, and although the percentage is on the rise, only

sixty percent of drivers wear them today (Peterson). And finally, with a better respect

and understanding for the traffic laws, I would be a safer driver. I should make sure to

yield to pedestrians and stop at railroad tracks, just to name a few (Nathens).

Thirdly, to quote a cliché, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Another

preventative measure for the road is to prepare for the worst. Regular mechanical

check ups will make flat tire and engine trouble less likely. A roadside survival kit is also

a good idea; it should contain items like a twelve-foot jumper cable, blanket, flashlight,
first aid kit, and ice scraper are good beginning points for a good kit. Also, becoming a

defensive driver and being alert will help in preparing for the worst (Mead).

Furthermore, I should alter my driving habits severely during inclement weather

conditions.

Over the next several weeks, I plan to change the way I drive and how I

approach the rules of the road. Parallel to the three interventions mentioned above,

there are three things I can do in the future to become a better driver. On the week of

Thanksgiving, I will be driving to Nashville, which is about a three hour trip. By leaving

early, and mapping out my route, the journey should be that much safer and I should

not feel pressure to exceed the speed limit. Also, I am planning to change my oil and

rotate the tire on my car in December. By asking the mechanics to complete a full

check on the motor vehicle and fixing the issues found, I will be one step closer to being

a safer driver. And finally, I am in the process of making a roadside survival kit for the

trunk of my car. I will include the usual tools and gizmos along with granola bars,

bottled water, and flares for the possible extreme emergencies.

Personal safety is becoming an issue that is visible for me as I grow older.

Violent related crimes and rape seem to be harder safety issues to control because they

are intentional and out of the victim’s control. Motor vehicle safety may be a leading

cause of death, but it seems more feasible to prevent. That’s why I am going to do all

that’s in my power to avoid unsafe incidents on the road- an arena where more can be

done to prepare for the worst.

 Works Cited

Hahn, Dale B., Wayne A. Payne, et al. (2006). “Protecting Your Safety.” (8th Ed.),

Focus on Health. (pp. 422-441). New York: McGraw-Hill Inc.

Lyznick, James M., Theodore C. Doege, et. al. (17 June 1998). “Sleepiness, Driving,

and Motor Vehicle Crashes.” Journal of the American Medical Association,

279.23.

Mead, Scott. (1997). “Create Your Own Roadside Emergency Kit.” Retrieved 5 Nov

2007, from Edmunds, INC. Website:

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/43798/article.html

Nathens, Avery B., Gregory J. Jurkovich, et.al. (19 April 2000). “The Effect of

Organized Systems of Trauma Care on Motor Vehicle Crash Mortality.” Journal

of the American Medical Association, 283.15, 1990-1994.

Peterson, Timothy D., B Tilman Jolly, et.al. ( Sep 1998). “Motor Vehicle Safety:

Current Concepts and Challenges for Emergency Physicians.” Annals of

Emergency Medicine, 34.3, 384-393.

Redelmeier, Donald A. and Robert J. Tibshirani. (13 Feb 1997). “Association Between

Cellular-Telephone Calls and Motor Vehicle Collisions.” The New England

Journal of Medicine, 336.7.