Being in the Driver’s Seat

The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths due to driving is, saving at least one life. Being educated before you get behind the wheel is the most important thing that we can do. No one knows your bad habits and lack of attentiveness behind the wheel more than you do. Making a difference starts with you. You can take the steps necessary to reduce the number of deaths related to driving by taking the responsibility of being a good driver. Educate yourself and your friends on the laws and responsibilities of driving.

It could be something as simple as reducing the distractions in your car; by turning your music down while you, having fewer friends in your vehicle, or permanently using a hands-free device while driving. You could even take a bigger stand on the matter by refusing to ride in the car with your friend unless they have successfully taken an approved driver’s education program. I know that this approach sounds like you would be going against the way it’s typically done, but this might be what it would take to get the point across on the importance of being educated on driving such an enormous and potentially deadly piece of equipment before sitting in the driver’s seat. We need to understand the importance of responsibility and that responsibility is being educated and accountable.

Although I have never been in a car accident, my sister has. A hit-and-run driver hit her. My sister had neck and shoulder pain and had a seatbelt burn across her chest. The hit-and-run driver was never caught, but my sister’s smart decision to wear a seatbelt saved her life. We see accidents all around us every day. I guess the thought never occurred to us that the next accident we see could be our very own family or friends. My dad used to try to text and drive years ago. My mom and I complained to him and told him that he should stop immediately because it wasn’t safe.

My dad, my mom, and I agreed that we would never text and drive. I’m proud of my family because they see the danger in texting and driving and have committed to not doing it. Being “In the driver’s seat” and vowing to do better at preventing accidents and saving people’s lives should go hand in hand. Drivers can never do too much to save someone’s life. However, we can control how we prevent what happens after one, such as lifelong injuries, psychological trauma, or even death. The best thing that anybody can do to be a better driver and help others become safer on the road is to “drive for yourself and the other driver,” which is what my mom always says. Be patient, anticipate that there may be bad decisions from other drivers, and respect the driver of the car that you are riding in so that the driver can concentrate.

Just imagine that you were on your way home from school one day. You were asked if you needed a ride home, but just as you started to answer, your ride showed up. So you said your goodbyes to your friends; you see them at school regularly. You finished getting your supplies from your locker and headed out to the car. Your driver started towards I-75 when you began to hear emergency vehicles in the background. As you rode down the highway, you were passed by a giant red fire truck with its sirens at a defining blare. Up ahead, you could see blue lights and sirens of what appeared to be an entire police division. As you drove by you, saw one of the passengers standing outside of the badly tangled vehicle. There were three more people that were sitting on the bed of an ambulance. Your heart nearly stopped as you realized that these five friends you had said goodbye to minutes earlier. Only imagine one of them laying on a stretcher with a white sheet covering their entire body. Wow, thank God I only said, “Imagine.” It’s essential to be educated because you could be the one who saves lives with your knowledge. Knowing that your driving habits can affect someone else’s life should be an infinitive to being educated on being a safe driver. It’s up to me to make a difference. It starts with me.