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.