Patience and Focus are the True Virtues

Q.
What is the importance of drivers ed in reducing the number
deaths as a result of driving?

What
steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

Have
you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your
friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

What
steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help
others become safer on the road?

One
sharp thud to the back of the car. The next moment, another car
slammed into the back of our car. Thinking the nightmare was over, my
family friend unbuckled her seatbelt and reached over to exit the car
when, yet another car slammed into our car. Not expecting it, she
jerked forward, breaking her neck and injuring her back–injuries
that took 6 months to heal. Sitting next to her, I sent up a silent
prayer that I had kept my seatbelt on.

3
years later, I found myself in a car speeding 60 miles per hour down
the main road, wildly swerving side to side at 9 P.M on a Saturday
night. As I sat in the backseat of this extremely dangerous
situation, my protests were drowned out by the cheers of my other
friends in that car. A harmless birthday party trip to the ice cream
store turned into one of my scariest car rides, and as a driver
practicing to get her license, it was an experience I especially
never forgot. 

Though
people may assume they know the rules of the road, as people spend
years driving, they may forget about simple rules of the road.
Learning about how to drive cautiously rather than how to reach a
place fast can help reduce the number of accidents that occur on a
daily basis, which can save time, money, and lives. 

One
of the main steps I believe everyone can take towards reducing the
number of deaths related to driving is implementing more patience
into their driving. Often in crowded intersections, instead of
waiting for an ample opportunity to safely crossover, many of my
peers rush out into the street at the first small break in traffic
they see. Though they may believe this is safe, in reality, it is too
risky to accelerate from rest to a high speed while cars traveling at
these high speeds rush towards you. 

Another
step I believe that others (including me) can follow is staying away
from the temptation of cellphones. Despite the innovations of
voice-to-text and hands-free calling, I believe that when you are
driving, your focus should be fully on the road. No matter how
excellent of a driver a person may be, all it takes is one
mistake–one moment of distraction or one look away from the
roads–to ruin your life and others lives too. 

As
I speak about these tips, I acknowledge that I too am at fault for
being impatient at times while driving, or taking a quick glance at
my phone to see incoming texts. However, to become a better driver, I
will ensure that I stay under the speed limit, lower the volume when
listening to music so I can better focus on the road, and exert more
patience at crowded intersections. By staying a safe driver on the
roads, not only do I keep my life safe, but I ultimately contribute
towards keeping both pedestrians and other drivers’ lives safe as
well.