Distracted Driving Needs to Stop

Is driver’s education expensive? Absolutely. Is it necessary? Again absolutely. When I was 16 and getting my driver’s license my parents made me go to a traditional driving school with 24 hours of classroom time and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel time but, they also made me go to a driving course that taught ways to drive defensively. The course ran 8 hours, and it took us through a course where we learned what to do if our car should go into a spin, and what to do should the car start sliding on ice. While I was 100% not on board to attend another class, I think it was amazing and a course that should be required for all drivers, especially teenagers. I don’t know that teenagers understand the importance of driving school until they get into a situation they were not prepared for and then they will freak out and potentially wreck injuring themselves or others or causing death depending on the severity. Teenagers can have a high sense of knowing how to do things and, therefore, be defiant about driving school. Driving school helps teenagers learn how to perform minimal maintenance on vehicles, it will allow the student to gain some confidence behind the wheel, and it should also provide some defensive driving techniques. In Ohio, it is required to complete driver’s education should the student be under 18. It also teaches teenagers about the areas where speed limits are set. For example, knowing that a residential area even without a posted speed limit sign is typically 25-35mph not 80mph or whatever speed they feel like going that day. In addition to reducing the number of crashes drivers’ education can also remind drivers to ensure they require all passengers to buckle up. NEVER ever get behind the wheel should you be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and always ensure that if you have a passenger that needs a child safety seat that it is appropriately buckled into the vehicle. I think the defensive driving course should be mandatory for all teenagers.

When I was a sophomore in high school a classmate wrecked her car by pulling out in front of a large truck. She suffered a broken leg; her front seat passenger suffered a concussion, and her backseat passenger was thrown from the vehicle and was not breathing when paramedics got on scene. She was taken to Children’s Hospital and not expected to survive. 2 years later she is VERY lucky to be “normal” with no deficits but if the driver has just put her phone down this may not have happened at all. While that turned into a happy ending not every story ends that way. I was 14 years old when my sister pulled out in front of a large truck and was hit broadside and spent 10 days in the hospital with severe injuries and 8 subsequent weeks at home with our mom taking care of her. The pictures of my sister’s car still terrify me to this day and that was 5 years ago. My sister was driving distracted, and her phone was found on the floorboard of her car where she had obviously been using maps for directions as well as texting. I as a driver have started putting my phone in my purse on the floorboard, so I am not tempted to grab it to use it while driving. If I need it that badly then I can pull over safely and conduct whatever business is pressing and urgent. I also have my phone set to send automatic replies when I am driving so the sender knows I will respond when I am able. I think automatic replies should be mandatory for not only teenagers but adults as well. Life360 allows my parents to see where I am should they be concerned about my whereabouts without having to fear I am in danger. In 2022, I was hit in the driver’s door by a distracted adult driver who ran a red light. I spent two days in the hospital due to my complex medical history and I recovered with no difficulties; however, the wreck did total my vehicle and knocked me unconscious, briefly terrifying my younger sister. Life360 allowed my parents to be notified of the collision and they were able to get to me safely yet quickly. I am not sure what happened to the adult driver, but I do know that when my sister wrecked her car, she had to go to a class called Car Teens. My mom went with her and the pictures of vehicles they showed were terrifying to my mom. My mom and stepdad are both firefighters/paramedics therefore, they unfortunately see these wrecks more than others may but, they have always instilled in us to take responsibility for our actions. I never want to be the reason that my mom gets that knock on the front door from a police officer.