Think to Save

Driver’s education is an opportunity to get essential knowledge on the road. When driving around whether it is 3am or 5pm rush hour it’s important to trust other drivers on the road, including yourself. Memorizing the rules helps you to know how to drive in different situations. This is incredibly important to everyone’s safety. You never know who are in the cars around you. From an elderly woman to an infant baby, you need to remember that each life is important. As cliche as it might sound, knowing the rules of the road will prevent crashes, road rage, and difficult situations.

While driver’s education may seem like a burden among all of the other classes, it is truly some of the most essential knowledge you will ever take in. You may already know to stop at a red light and go when it turns green, but do you already know how far away is a safe distance from a railroad crossing? These specific details can save lives. Taking notes to pass the test can help ingrain these little things that could save a life in one month or 30 years into the future. Knowing how to navigate unpredictable situations on the road will take away from the unlimited dangers. Not only knowing the rules, but enforcing them in your car is vital.

When you’re running late, take that extra breath to calm down will stop you from endangering yourself and others. Owning up to missing your exit instead of cutting across 5 lanes will prevent an inevitable accident. Keeping your eyes on the road instead of texting your impatient friend might just prevent you from having a fender bender causing you to be even later. Doing your makeup before you leave so you haven’t unknowingly caused traffic at the red light or driven distracted can help people not have dangerous road rage. Admit you are in annoying traffic instead of trying to swerve around everyone to get to your destination 2 minutes faster. These changes could keep your insurance rates down. These steps are probably the most simple yet effective to keep everyone alive.

I see these things everyday, and I am absolutely positive that you see them too. You also hear about horrible accidents too often, so connecting the dots of these accidents and these common moments of distractions will provide a safer driving environment. Recently, my grandma was involved in a terrible head-on life threatening accident, totalling her 1967 Mustang. She couldn’t walk for 6 months. In the accident she was at fault, she got confused. It hurts to know this, but it was a very clear alarm to keep your mind sharp while driving. Knowing that when you’re 80, to keep yourself safe you need to carry the rules of the road with you everyday. About 7 years ago now I lost someone to a horrible car accident. She was just 18 years old and in her first year of college. She had a heart condition since she was a child that was monitored annually. She went to her last appointment while on college break and never came home. Her mom called the police and they found her about an hour away from her home. She had passed as she drove back from her doctor’s visit. At the time of the accident, she wasn’t wearing her seatbelt. She was ejected from the car and was immediately killed. Her story is absolutely heartbreaking and I will never forget it. The last time I saw her I said goodbye and goodluck at college. Next I went to her funeral. It was the first time I truly knew how fragile life was. I will never let anyone in my car unless the buckle up. She was a role model to me and I think about her a lot. Thinking about the little things when driving can prevent a random deadly moment in the future. A simple reminder to your friends while driving somewhere can go a long way. Even taking a moment when you are driving to remember how to deal with situations on the road can make driving a whole lot easier.

Driving in Minnesota in the winter is a perfect example of when you need to remember all the details of what to do. When do you brake, what do you do if you slide, what is a good speed to drive in a snowstorm, is it worth it to drive right now? These are all things that go through my head when even thinking about driving in snowy weather conditions. Staying sharp, helping others, and being able to trust others goes a long way.

I hope in the future death rates caused by driving will go down with more drivers education, patience and less distraction on the roads. I hope when I am 80 years old I get the privilege to drive on safer roads.