Name: Adam Timothy Bernklau
From: Suamico, Wisconsin
Votes: 324
Adam
Bernklau – “In the Driver’s Seat” Essay Fall 2019
My
Class D Probationary license was issued to me 14 months ago. I am
pleased (and fortunate) to say I have not caused a collision or
accident while driving in that time. I have not hurt, and certainly
have not killed, anyone while navigating our roadways!
The
driving instruction I learned both in the classroom and behind the
wheel taught me well how to be an aware, proficient, safe and
defensive driver.
The
classroom portion of Drivers Ed (DE) was useful to me in so many
ways. My instructor taught me the rules of the road directly out of
the Wisconsin DOT Motorist’s Handbook, section by section. Since
the entire manual was covered in the three weeks of classroom DE, I
feel very prepared to handle new and unusual situations when I
encounter them while driving alone. The 12 hours behind the wheel
instruction I completed helped me put into perspective, and practice,
all that had been taught to me in the classroom.
I
can say with great certainty that my DE instruction helped me become
the aware and cautious driver I am. Anyone who thinks they will
obtain their license without having had prior instruction on safe and
proficient driving is fooling him/herself.
Any
distracted driving has the potential to cause great harm and/or
death, as does being in a vehicle without your seatbelt on. In an
effort to save lives, drivers and passengers MUST put on their
seatbelt before the key ever enters the ignition! Period! Drivers
must silence their phone and forget about it until their trip is
over. Other distractions, like (1) eating/drinking while driving, (2)
driving after consuming alcohol or legal/illegal drugs, (3) adjusting
car panel instruments, (4) taking your eyes off the road to view
something around you, (4) talking with someone else in the car, (5)
using your phone, (6) etc. can cause an accident to happen in under
one second! Drivers need to JUST DRIVE.
One
night in July 2019, while coming home in the dark from my out-of-town
baseball tournament, my Mom hit a deer on a Wisconsin county highway
going 55mph. All four of us in the car were shaken to tears, but none
of us was hurt. WE ALL HAD OUR SEATBELTS ON! Both front airbags
deployed, and our car was totaled, but we were safe and unharmed.
Being in a soundly-built vehicle equipped with functioning airbags
and seatbelts not only saved our lives, but kept us from being hurt.
Some
of my friends still insist on texting while driving. I let them know
that I won’t be their passenger unless they put the phone down. I
am always working on ways to be a more aware, undistracted and
defensive driver. I expect the same from my family and friends, and
I’m not afraid to let them know that!
