Never assume

Drivers ed Initiative Award: In the Driver’s Seat

Amber M. Conn

Drivers ed can reduce death in so many ways. One of them would be to be aware of others aside from yourself including surroundings, allowing space, not stopping abruptly or frequently, not driving too fast or too slow, wearing a seatbelt, adjust the seat to ensure your feet reach the petals, matching up the mirrors properly so when you merge into another lane, you can see if there’s a motorcyclist or another vehicle there.

A safe bet is to never assume that someone will stop. In fact, I have been hit while driving on the driver side because someone decided they didn’t see me in the turning lane in front of the parking lot they were pulling out of. Luckily, they weren’t going fast but I was 19 years old, and it shook me. I didn’t have the money to fix it, nor get in and out of my driver side door for a long time after that. They were nice enough to drive away shortly after in order to not take responsibility for their careless actions. Now, I have a fear when people pull out of driveways if I’m in a lane in front of them.

Drivers should always pay attention to all sides. I can’t count how many times I have noticed people backing out of a parking space or pulling out of a driveway and only looking one direction (while I was waiting for them in the other direction that they weren’t looking). Driving while eating, playing on your phone, or any other distraction is also one that we are all familiar with, yet so many do it. When in high school during my junior or senior year, I recall being devastated and in shock that one of our classmates and a friend of his decided one night that while they were drinking, that they would test-drive their girlfriends new Lexus. There is a curvy road in town from the freeway to the town, where they took the curve too fast during the night where it was also poorly lit. It was fatal for both. In fact, I may still have the news article. I currently work at a nursing facility and our pharmacy delivers our patients medications to us. One of the delivery drivers was only in his 20’s when about a year or so ago was in a car pile-up and he died immediately.

Due to all these stories I did not even realize I had; I am more conscious about others. I drive as cautious as possible, while also paying attention to others. In my life, I have learned not to trust other drivers even if they appear to be paying attention. Reduced deaths can come from undistracted and sober driving. Lucky for me, my parents felt comfortable putting me through a driving school and I am thankful they did. I have had a few people tell me they feel safe when I drive which is fantastic to me. Allow space between vehicles on the freeway, even at a stoplight/sign in case someone hits you from behind, means there will be one less person involved. None would be ideal, but let’s be realistic. Helping others to be more safe by keeping a good distance between cars driving or stopped aids all drivers by allowing some “cushion”. If a phone call or text is needed to be read or said, there’s nothing wrong with pulling over (as long as there’s space to stay out of danger of other cars passing), or just wait to reach their destination.