Being Behind the Wheel

Jazmin Varela

Scholarships

Drivers Ed

25 March 2020

Being Behind the Wheel

I never knew the real value of driving responsibility until the
night I almost lost my best friend. Being the daughter of two Highway
Patrol Officers and the sister of another, I know that no matter how
old or how young someone is, taking drivers ed seriously is
important when it comes to saving the lives of oneselves, passengers,
and other people around the area. Vehicle accidents are one of the
top causes of death, which is absurd considering most deaths can be
prevented if more people were careful when seated behind the wheel.
When learning to drive, students are always taught the importance of
safety. Drivers ed teaches the significance in wearing a seat
belt, using blinkers, coming to safe stops, keeping a safe distance,
etc. and all of these things are important safety procedures. Due to
the teachings of these procedures, drivers ed is crucial in
reducing the number of deaths that can be caused by a vehicle.

After drivers ed, it is always important to put those steps
they teach into action. Wearing a seatbelt can protect you if
anything bad were to happen. For example, seat belts prevent bodies
from going airborne if there happens to be an accident. Other
situations, like not getting behind the wheel when under the
influence of drugs or alcohol, staying off the phone, and abiding by
all vehicle code laws prevent the number of deaths caused by a
vehicle.

I myself have been the passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a
minor accident, but there is one accident that will forever be
embedded in my head; encouraging me to respect myself and others on
the road. In 2012, we got the call that my brother was involved in a
major accident with one other vehicle. As we arrived at the scene, I
remember how horrible the sight was; my brother’s car was totaled and
the guard rail was missing. That night, I could have lost my brother,
my best friend, and it will forever encourage me to be a responsible
driver. In order to keep myself a safer driver I will pay attention
to the road and my surroundings, preventing myself from getting
distracted, especially by a text that can wait so that I may be a
defensive driver. To keep other drivers safe, I can be sure that they
do not allow themselves to get distracted by the radio or even by me.
It is important to value our lives and the lives of others, and being
a responsible driver is the key to saving more lives on the road.