Safe Driving Saves Lives

Drivers education reduces the number of deaths resulting from driving because it provides you with knowledge, skills, and proper attitudes to have while driving. Drivers education teaches students to respect driving and ultimately save lives. I took drivers education when I was in the 10th grade and it taught me the simple things that play a crucial part in driving. For example, how and when to yield, what driver has the right of way, and how to navigate different intersections. I also completed drives in class with the supervision of one of my teachers and completed 40 hours of driving under the supervision of my mom before getting my license. Taking a drivers education course adequately prepared me to drive the safest way possible and I passed my drivers test on the first attempt.

Drivers education also teaches individuals steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. These steps include making sure every passenger in the car wears their seatbelt, never getting behind the vehicle when under the influence, not being in a rush, and staying clear from distractions like messing with the radio, your phone, or trying to eat food. Wearing a seatbelt protects the individuals in the car from being launched out of the car incase of an accident. If under the influence, whether it be alcohol or drugs, an individual is not in the right state to be driving safe. By not driving under the influence the number of deaths caused by car accidents decreases. Not being in a rush plays a huge role in deaths related to driving because when individuals are in a hurry they tend to not pay attention to their surroundings, putting their life and others lives at risk. Not allowing things to distract you also keeps you safe because when on your phone you cannot see if someone stops in front of you which could result in an accident.

I am a strong advocate for safe driving because when I was in seventh grade my mom was taking me to the doctors office for a yearly checkup when a man ran a stop sign and hit the car on the passenger side, the side I was sitting on, and caused a broadside collision or a more popular term for it, T-bone collision. My mom’s van got totaled and I had mild whiplash resulting from the impact. Although there were not any serious injuries the accident still scared me and caused me to be even more cautious when in the car. My uncle has been a huge influence in my life when telling me about safe driving because of his own mistakes in his past. My uncle received two DUIs in the span of a year. He had to pay thousands of dollars in fines for it, lost his license for a period of time, and had to serve some jail time as a result. He was greatly changed by his mistakes and has emphasized safe driving to both my sister and myself since.

There are many things I do personally to make myself a safer and better driver while also allowing others to be safe. I always make sure that I do not go over the speed limit and when it rains I go significantly slower to make sure I have a lower risk of hydroplaning. I am also always sure that I stay off of my phone and not answer any phone calls or text messages. When merging or changing lanes I am always conscious to check my blind spot. I can also take defensive driving courses in addition to my previous driver’s education courses. I can also remain calm when in stressful situations such as excessive traffic, being able to control my emotions and remain calm allows my mind and judgment to be clear. I can also practice the use of keeping a car’s length between my vehicle and other vehicles in front of me. This is important because if another vehicle rear ended my car then it would be less likely for my car to rear end the car in front of me. It would also be valuable for me to know my car better. Learning where each setting is on your car keeps you from fumbling around when you desire to use that feature of your car. For example, if it is extremely foggy outside and you do not know where your fog lights are located then your vision will be impared while driving due to limited sight distance. All in all it is imperative to practice safe driving because it ultimately saves lives.