Name: Dillon Marshall
From: Prairieville, Louisiana
Votes: 0
Drivers
Safety 101
When
I was in driving school, it was a huge reality check. I saw it as
freedom, but in reality, it is a privilege to be taken seriously. To
put it in the words of my driving instructor Coach Hill, “Getting
your license is a license to operate a 2-ton killing machine.” From
that moment forward, I began to learn that the roads are not ours,
and that laws are made for our safety. I hope that every new driver
can learn this principle, so we can stop losing the lives of our
youth to automobiles.
My
name is Dillon Marshall. I am currently a senior at Dutchtown High
School in Louisiana. I plan on attending San Jose State University
for College to study Aviation. I appreciate the opportunities that
transportation provides us, whether it be by plane or car. Despite
never flying a plane before, I am committed to learning. Just as much
as I love flying in planes, I love driving cars! It is one of my
favorite pass times. When it comes to both, I do understand that
while driving may be fun, it is not to be taken lightly. With great
privilege comes great responsibility. Operators of motor vehicles
need to understand that every second behind a wheel should be
invested in getting from point A to B because one distraction could
be catastrophic. With that being said, I plan to become a better
driver throughout college, in the sky and the air!
I
could go on to use scare tactics we’ve all heard before, but people
often respond with things like, “I know people who do that, and
they are fine.” In this essay, I want to dismiss some common false
assumptions I’ve heard from drivers and inform drivers that they
are not invincible. My intent is not to scare drivers, but instead
share some facts and provide some insight. We’ll start with the one
I’ve already addressed. For those that use other rule breakers to
justify their actions, remember that there is a reason people say
that comparing yourself to others is dangerous. What’s going on
around you is different than what was going on around them. For that
one moment you decided to look away to send a text, anything can
happen. A pedestrian could walk into the street. An animal could walk
into the road. A car on the road to the left could decide to pull
out, but you wouldn’t see it in time to slow down.
Drivers
also tend to throw around the phrase, “It will never happen to me.”
There is nothing wrong with pledging to never have a wreck, only if
you are doing everything in your power not to get in a wreck. If
you’re eating, texting, speaking, or doing anything besides
devoting all of your attention to the road, it very well can happen
to you. According to auto insurance experts, the average driver will
get into an accident once every 18 years or so. For less experienced
drivers, 43 percent of first-year drivers and 37 percent of
second-year drivers are involved in car crashes nationwide. Accidents
do not discriminate. Distractions will happen, but drivers should
eliminate them, rather than believing an accident can’t happen to
them.
Next
up is notorious, “It’s just one drink”. For one, “one drink”
is subjective. How much is one drink? One beer is a lot different
than one shot of vodka. Also, everyone is different. The effects of
alcohol depend on how much you weigh, how fast you drink, how much
food is in your stomach, and other medical conditions. Don’t be
naive and predictable. Don’t be that stereotype. Instead of rolling
the dice, just don’t do it! You’ll save gas & a couple lives
in the process. So please, call an uber or call it a night.
After
evaluating many causes of car accidents, one thing remains common.
They are often avoidable. I’m nowhere near perfect. I’ve made
mistakes and I’m committed to learning from them. Earlier, I
mentioned that 43 percent of first-year drivers are involved in an
accident. Well, I am one among that 43 percent. On one summer day, I
was on my way home from my job. I was driving my first car. I loved
it. I’d had it for about a year. When I woke up that morning, I had
no idea that it would be my last day in that car. About 5 minutes
away from my house, I was at a red light. It was taking a while, so I
decided to take my eyes off the road for a second to check my phone.
When the light turned green, I noticed in my peripheral vision. What
I did not notice was how much closer I moved to the vehicle ahead of
me while I was on my phone, so I quickly accelerated into the behind
of the vehicle. My car was later totaled and I never got to drive it
again. So, I can attest to how pointless wrecks are. Even when you
are at a red light or your foot is not on the gas, you are still
driving. Never forget that the cell phone takes away from all of our
senses & that things are always going on around you. With that
being said, I’m very thankful to be unharmed today and I do not use
my cell phone behind the wheel anymore. Hopefully, one teenager reads
this and it becomes their motivation not to pick up their phone.
As
I conclude this essay, I’d like to end with some final helpful
advice to those that are licensed and those aspiring to obtain a
license. Though it’s difficult for one person to make a change, it
all starts with one person. The statistics of teen driving death do
not have to be our reality. To make a small difference, so many
little things can be done! For those still in the passenger seat,
offer to respond to the driver’s text message if you see them get
an alert. If you know someone is traveling, try to avoid calling
them. For those able to drive, if driving in unfamiliar areas, the
passenger should read the directions or the driver should listen to
the directions, rather than looking at their cell phone. Technology
is our friend, but cell phones are a distraction. Drag racing should
be avoided. That’s just asking for trouble. Not only does safe
driving save lives, but you save money. Accidents are expensive, from
the car’s expenses to the potential hospital bills. Finally,
whether you drive or not, are a parent or a student, safety education
can start early, so inquire about having a drivers ed course in your
local high schools. Every life is important, so I just hope my story,
advice, and experience can resonate with at least one driver!
