In The Driver’s Seat

Anna Crawford

19 May, 2021

In the Driver’s Seat Essay Response

The everyday task of driving is a normal reality we live with every day. However, it is a silent killer because the smallest loss of control can result in a fatal accident. Driving in busy areas causes increased risks and can result in accidents in which even the most alert drivers are punished by others reckless driving. Therefore, it is crucial to educate students and citizens on driver education to create a collective awareness and increased safety. Judging by my experiences and knowledge, in order to decrease the numbers of deaths related to driving, driver education may need to be renewed over a period of time to refresh the drivers memory, as well as vision checks to make sure especially those who are older are qualified to drive.

When my mother was a young adult, she was hit by an old woman that turned into the side of her car. After authorities were contacted, she found out that the woman could barely see and was in no condition to drive. Years later, she was driving home from church with my father, me, and my three younger siblings, my youngest sister being only two. A driver turned into the side of our car as we were going straight and she was turning from the middle of the road. Miraculously, no one was badly hurt and the worst injury was the sprain to my finger from my hand banging against the window. However, the damage totaled our mini van. The woman driving the car did not have a license because hers was suspended and she did not have insurance.

Instances such as these show the carelessness of those who should not be out on the road, but they do not compare to the tragedy of fatal accidents. Just last year, one of my friends closest friends died in a terrible car accident as a result of drunk driving. The devastation the event caused weighed down on everyone in the community. This high school girl was just one of the estimated 34,000 victims of accidents every year, showing the greater effect it has and how necessary is it to take steps towards more driver education. Another way in which we can do this is to encourage the normalization of calling a ride instead of driving when you are not sober. This could decrease reckless driving substantially and prevent trouble with the law that is permanently on one’s license.

Perhaps the most memorable instance of when I have witnessed the effects of reckless driving was in middle school at my youth group. We had a guest speaker in a wheelchair who started off by telling his story. He went to college and began to party more and more, and one night drove home under the influence of alcohol. The weather was bad and he lost control of his car, running straight into a tree and leaving him near dead. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. His journey ended up being fruitful, and he is now sober and helping others that struggle with substance abuse. His story was moving, and made me view driving under the influence very seriously.

The effects of reckless driving are heartbreaking and sudden, and could all be avoided if proper precautions were taken. Periodic screenings to ensure people are qualified to drive and available ride services for those in need of assistance should be more available. Personally, I could be a safer driver by abiding by the speed limit more often than I do. My friends could do the thing, and may need to be reminded sometimes to make sure they are being cautious. It is also important not to get frustrated with drivers who are acting irresponsibly on the road, which can lead many people to becoming aggressive and taking chances that could lead to fatal mistakes.

Comparing deaths related to driving to deaths related to war, it is evident that drivers are all at a war to be safe and protect themselves and others by being educated and alert when driving. Drivers must be especially cautious at all times as those around them can make fatal mistakes in a millisecond. Cautious and conscious driving is worth the extra attention in order to save the lives of those in our community that we share the road with. I have caught myself looking at a text while driving, as everyone has, and the choice to look away and keep your eyes on the road is one that is a vital habit.

Conclusively, everyone has a story of how reckless driving has affected their life or the life of someone they know. Taking precautions and taking driving seriously could reduce these stories and save thousands. Drivers education is something people may forget about after they get their license, but it is vital to be aware of no matter how long you have been driving.