The right to drive is also a responsibility. You may be filled with excitement the first time you’re handed your driver’s license, but your mind should be prepared for the load of legal responsibility you accept every time you get behind the wheel.
Safety takes on a deeper meaning when your mind is enlightened to all of the possibilities. Take a moment to read through a brief look at a few of the legal responsibilities you assume while out on the roads, and invest in becoming a safer driver today.
You have to be insured
If you’re operating a vehicle on the roads in the United States, then you have a legal responsibility to have a valid vehicle insurance policy as well.
Car insurance is an essential responsibility of a driver. If there is an accident (whether it’s your fault or not) there is always a large financial backlash. Your insurance will help cover the financial injury while you heal from any physical injuries you suffer.
You have to be sober
If you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, you have a legal and moral responsibility to be sober. No amount of “headchange” is an acceptable amount of headchange when you’re taking the lives of others in your hands.
It’s illegal to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but it’s also immoral. The precious lives in the vehicles around you deserve the safety of your sobriety.
Know the rules of the road
You have no business driving if you don’t understand the laws and rules that govern the roads you ride. If you get pulled over for speeding, driving while you’re drunk, or breaking any kind of traffic rules, you’re liable to be penalized for them all. In those cases, only the assistance of a traffic lawyer (click here for an example) can help you out. To be able to drive in a particular place, you must pass a test of knowledge to be licensed, as there are cultural differences that also affect the way people drive.
If you’re driving in New York City, for instance, the way you drive might be a bit different than if you were driving through the flatlands of the midwest.
Understand how to drive with truckers
There are thousands of big trucks on the roads at any given time in this country, and everyday drivers should do their part to understand the plight of commercial drivers. When you’re on the road with truckers, understand that they can’t see everything around their vehicle.
There are several blindspots for 18-wheelers, and you don’t want your vehicle riding in one of them. Also, truck drivers can’t just stop on a dime, so don’t put them in a position to have to stop suddenly.
You have to be focused
Many states in the U.S. have recently passed road laws against fiddling with your smartphone while driving. Distraction while driving can be just as deadly as being drunk behind the wheel. The bottom line is that your mind is not on the road when you’re stuck in your phone.
