Why we drive and the importance of Safety

Jazmine Lopez

3/24/20

Drivers
Ed 2020 Online Essay Contest

The
purpose of Drivers Ed is to inform us and provide us with
knowledge, skills, and precautions to take as a driver. According to
I Drive Safely.com, an article on drivers ed course states that
“drivers ed course thoroughly covers each state’s traffic
laws, it actually helps new drivers learn the skills that are
essential to the safe operation of a car.” We all now know that the
point of drivers ed is to retain information and apply our knowledge
of the rules on the road. This article also states the “ a study of
students results of the drivers who have taken Drivers ed were
involved in fewer crashes.” The importance of Drivers ed is to
keep the roads and neighborhood streets safe, that’s why its
important for students to take this course. With the information of
learning about how to control road rage, watch speed limits, and
pedestrians, the streets can be safer.

Steps
we can take as teenagers to make the road safer are to stay off our
phones until we reach our destination, be aware of all our
surroundings every time we come to a stop, and always let the
pedestrians pass first. What the state or school districts I think
can enforce for students is in high school once they get their
license is to give an exam every two to three months about the rules
of the road in that state so it stays fresh in their mind until they
graduate. Maybe the car accident rate will drop a little if we were
to put it to the test. I think it would be an interesting study. I
would be willing to participate in the study. What I think needs to
be added to Drivers ed courses are real life scenarios. I don’t
mean watching a video of real life scenarios, I mean being in the
car and an instructor asks questions like “what do you do if you
car flips over?” or “ What will you do if an animal jumps out in
front of you?” or “what will you do when an aggressive driver
cuts you off right now?” In my drivers ed class I’ve learned
about real life scenarios from other people’s perspectives, but not
my own. That is teaching me to think “Yeah, this wont ever happen
to me.” I’ve learned what to do when you see someone else in an
accident and what not to do, like down move an unconscious body
because you could worsen the situation. I say all this because I was
involved in a car accident when my brother was driving in a
roundabout. It was 6:08 AM. I remember this because I was checking
the time, worrying about if I would be late to cross country
practice. We’re in the outer lane, and out of nowhere, a small
white mid sized car came and hit the front of my white CX-9 Suv. This
car is 12 years old and the car’s driver’s window was down, so we
got a look at him, but everything happened so fast. There was no one
around us because it was still dark out. His headlights weren’t on.
We didn’t hear any cars around us either. All I remember is that he
hit us and swerved off into the next exit. He was driving fast. I
didn’t know what to do. We continued to head to the school since is
was less than 3 miles away to get out of the car and look at the
damage. It wasn’t too bad, and it was scratch marks luckily. We
called my dad. We didn’t call the police; we didn’t think we had
to because it wasn’t a serious hit and run. That day was the week
before I started my Drivers Ed class. I got lucky that day
because he could’ve come head on at my passenger side and crushed
me in. I was in shock that all of it happened. We still went to
practice for two hours and then we went home. That was one of the
scariest days of my life.

What
I will always do is count three seconds after I stop at a stop sign,
and then proceed. I always stay off my phone when I drive, even keep
my phone on silent because texts and people can wait, drive safe or
not at all. I will always put my blinker on ahead of time because I
know a lot of people don’t and it’ll confuse them when you’re
switching lanes or turning into somewhere. I let the pedestrians
cross first and stay at a slow speed when I drive in every
neighborhood including mine.

Works Cited

“Does Taking A Drivers Ed
Course Reduce Car Crashes?” Auto-Related
News, Trends, & Tips – I Drive Safely,
Drive Safely,
www.idrivesafely.com/defensive-driving/trending/does-taking-drivers-ed-course-reduce-car-crashes.

“Teen Driver Car Accident
Statistics & Facts.” Edgarsnyder.com,
Edgar Snyder and & Associates Personal Injury Law Firm,
www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/who-was-injured/teen/teen-driving-statistics.html.