Safety First, Second, and Third

Safety
First, Second, and Third

The
drivers ed program is the pinnacle of a functioning society
in regards to safety on the roadways. People learn from a young age
that they will have to know how to drive if they want to be
completely independent, but the importance of driving safely is lost
on some people. Once an American turns sixteen, they are given the
right to operate a four-thousand pound killing machine, capable of
devastating destruction when operated carelessly. Thankfully, the
drivers ed system is there to make sure each person knows
the rules of the road so they can avoid causing car accidents that
affect themselves or others. Knowing when it is safe to go a certain
speed limit or what all roadway signs symbolize can mean the
difference between life and death, and drivers ed programs are
responsible for educating young folks to care about the power they
hold once they get behind the wheel of a car.

There
are numerous ways that people can reduce the number of deaths caused
by automobile accidents. For one, we can hold drivers ed students
to a higher standard. They could be required to get an even higher
score on their final tests before they are allowed to drive freely on
the roadways. This would encourage students to take the courses more
seriously and work harder to make it so they can legally operate
their own vehicle. Another way to prevent driving related deaths is
by charging higher fines for road violations like speeding or
ignoring road signs. This would add incentive for drivers to obey the
laws for fear they would have to pay a significant fine for their
disobedience. One final way that we could reduce driving fatalities
is by emphasizing the importance of road safety to young drivers.
This can be accomplished by teaching about the impact that local car
accidents have had in the community or highlighting other examples.
These few simple things will be worth putting in place if they save
lives on the road in the near future.

There
is something truly terrifying about losing control of a four-thousand
pound hunk of metal. I have had the unfortunate experience of being
in a car accident, myself, and it was one of the scariest events of
my life. Luckily there were no passengers in the car with me when I
had my accident, and I went into the ditch rather than in the lane
with oncoming traffic. Still though, I wonder what could have
happened if I had gone into the other lane, and what else could have
happened if there were other cars surrounding me. I can only imagine
whether being more educated on the importance of road safety would
have made me more careful, and also kept me from putting in a CD
while I was driving. That experience shook me up, but it has
certainly turned me into a more safe and attentive driver.

I
was very fortunate to have survived my car accident, but also very
scared about getting into another one in the future. After that
fiasco, I vowed to be the safest driver I could be. In doing so, I
follow a script set of guidelines that I believe should apply to all
drivers. For one, I choose to drive the speed limit wherever I go. I
learned that speed limits are set for everyone’s safety, and while
disobeying them may get me where I need to go, it could also put
other drivers on the road in peril if I lose control. Going the
recommended speed lowers my chances of getting in an accident and
protects the drivers around me from being affected by my
carelessness. One more safety precaution I take on the road is to
make sure I am comfortable enough for the drive ahead before I
actually begin driving. I make sure the temperature is comfortable,
put in a CD or find a good radio station, and put on sunglasses or
move sun visors so I know my vision won’t be compromised. Simple
steps like these have helped me, and can also help others, be safer
and more diligent as they travel from place to place on America’s
roadways.