Attentive Driving: The Beginning to the End of Vehicular Collisions

Attentive Driving: The Beginning to the End of Vehicular Collisions

The moment I’ve been waiting for is finally here. One of my first marks of independence is rapidly approaching. My first attempt at my Driver’s License Test. As I prepare and practice, I have multiple thoughts running through my head, and tons of emotions accompanying them. The anxiety that comes with taking a test, the excitement of the newfound freedom of being able to travel wherever I please, and fear over the increased danger that comes with driving. As I took my online course to prepare for the Driver’s Test, I was constantly reminded how important drivers ed is to keep others safe on the road.

Drivers ed is crucially important to reducing the amount of deaths that occur due to automobile accidents by informing a driver of the proper procedures and behaviors of the road. The procedure for the right of way at a cross intersection is an excellent example. A driver arrives at this intersection and another driver arrives immediately to their right. Since both drivers arrived at the same time the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. If proper protocol is followed the driver to the right will safely maneuver their vehicle to their proper lane, and the driver to the left will yield and safely pass after the other driver safely reaches their designated lane. However, if this yielding procedure isn’t followed there is a high chance for a collision that could result in injury or death. To decrease the number of deaths drivers can pay extra attention to the road, limit distractions, and be extra aware of their fellow drivers and the situations that occur around them.

When I was younger, I remember riding in the backseat of my mother’s car on the way to church early Sunday morning. I remember the loss of control over my body, and the panicked expression on my mother’s face as the vehicle got out of her control. The accident happened so fast I didn’t even realize we weren’t driving on the highway anymore till the vehicle collided with the median strip. My mother got distracted for a split second and that’s all it took for a collision to ensue. The feeling of the utter helplessness put into perspective the dangerousness of driving, and how fortunate my family and I were that none of us had been injured.

To be a safer driver when I obtain my license, I’ll start by being extra alert and concentrated on the road. That starts with limiting any and all distractions within my vehicle to ensure that I don’t miss cues from other drivers, movement from other vehicles, or accidents that have or could have occurred. Another important step is knowing my limits, and knowing when to take a break so I don’t fall victim to drowsy driving. To ensure that I and others around me remain safe, and that we reach our individual destinations.