Take Initiative Planning Save Millions

Take

that
first drive behind the wheel exhilaration is felt by teens around the
world. We worked day and night studying to pass a written and
physical drivers’ examination to hold the privileged title of
licensed. Exhilaration results from the Invincibility Theory amongst
teenagers. We let the emotions of pleasure decide our decisions and
override the potential for risks. However, this is attributed to our
brains not being fully developed yet, making safe driving habits
imperative. We forget that all it takes is one bad decision behind
the wheel for this privilege to be taken much less our own life or
someone else’s.

Initiative

is
one of the most important steps of drivers ed. Without a
strong foundation of habits drivers imitate their surroundings which
may be friends or even family members. Remembering that you hold the
power to drive needs to be accompanied by self-education.
Self-education is best done through help via outside resources.
Outside research helps create strong habits such as: not speeding,
using turn signals, choosing music to listen to before starting your
car.

Planning

your
trip whether short or long before you even start your car is vital.
In Drivers ed Programs we are taught to always check our
surroundings. Yet, as the days and years pass, we take that
lifesaving tip for granted. Some ways to combat this is checking your
lights and signals, fuel and fluid levels before driving off. Another
key is to obtain a car phone or gps mount holder and check and send
messages before even starting the car. This help prevent distracted
driving which kills thousands annually. To put the time in
perspective the CDC states, “At 55 mph, sending or reading a text
takes your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds, long enough to
cover a football field.”

Save

driving
experiences, especially bad ones and use them as lessons. When I was
a teenager my mother picked me up from after school care after
getting off work. On our drive home in rush hour traffic you could
hear the stress through the excessive horn honking. Minutes into our
drive a distracted driver behind us on the phone rammed into us which
then created a domino effect that made us hit the car in front of us
which hit the car in front of them. Being younger I just pictured a
ride in the car as a means to get from point a to point b. However,
this experience truly changed my thought process regarding driving
safety. After, this I understood why my parents

always
spent a few minutes each drive to send texts and pick music as well
as put their phones on mount holders. My parents’ habits and this
experience are why I am the driver I am today.

Millions

of
lives can be saved by taking initiative planning seriously. Answering
texts and choosing music before a drive are crucial. Using technology
accessories such as mounts greatly reduce distracted driving and save
lives. Drive safe and drive educated. Do not let a meaningless text
message eliminate a meaningful life.

Take
Initiative Planning Save Millions