Distracted Driving is Not the Way to Go

My name is Jenicka Vargas, I am a graduate from Wake Forest High school. Driving is a responsibility almost everyone has to face during their lifetime. Although it may be fun for some, it is very important to be educated on sitting behind the wheel and driving on the road. Drivers ed teaches you the importance of roadside safety for yourself and for others who are on the road with you. Drivers ed teaches you how to be aware of your surroundings and to be focused, attentive, and responsible behind the wheel. Teaching young students these key components will open them up to the real dangers of driving and the precautions they should take to avoid collisions and fatalities. It is very important for people to be cautious drivers. I’ve taken notes during my drivers ed course in high school, and have applied them behind the wheel. I’ve learned to make sure your car is functioning properly before you even buckle your seatbelt and to always check your vehicle for any malfunctions it may have. Those are the first steps you should take before you start driving. Then when you get inside of your car, you should immediately buckle your seatbelt, take your phone, silence it, and put it away so it doesn’t become a distraction. Next, adjust your seat and mirrors to make sure they are aligned and check if your passengers are buckled in. These are the simple steps you should take before you start your drive. They can easily save lives and prevent accidents from happening.

About two years ago I was involved in an accident on my way home. My dad was driving and a man rear ended us. The man wasn’t paying attention to the road, he was texting and driving. My sisters and I ended up taking a trip to the hospital on an ambulance to get checked out. We all had whiplash and were very sore. I ended up receiving a CAT scan because I couldn’t feel anything from the back of my head all the way down to my neck. Three years before that incident, a girl named Hannah Vial, who I went to middle school with, died in a car accident. Her and her friends were messing around with a vehicle that was stolen from a parent. They went drinking at a college party and on their way home they were speeding going around 60 mph through a neighborhood. The driver lost control of the car rounding a turn and crashed the vehicle into a tree. Hannah was projected from the car and instantly died on the sidewalk. Since then I”ve been more cautious about who I should be getting in a car with. To become a better and safer driver you must simply pay attention to your surroundings, and make sure you communicate with people you are sharing the road with by using your signals. Drive responsibly and with vigilance. Limit distractions while you are driving, do not play music too loudly and do not drive recklessly. Always be sober when you’re driving and discipline yourself to become a designated driver.