The Importance in Reducing Distractions

Zoe
Vilvens

In
the Driver’s Seat Scholarship

3/27/2020

The
Importance of Reducing Distractions

Drivers
education is a very important part in reducing the number of deaths
as a result of driving. When you go to driving school, they teach you
everything that you need to know about driving. On the other hand, if
you do not go to driving school, and just wait to get your license,
you may not know everything you need to know. If you grew up in a
small town, like I have, you may not know how to drive on a highway
well or understand how careful you need to be while going that fast
next to so many drivers. If attending driving school, you can learn
laws and understand what you need to do in situations that you may be
unfamiliar with. This can cause less confusion and mistakes, leading
to less deaths.

The
steps that can be taken to reduce deaths are steps that reduce
distractions and further the educations of driving. Distractions are
a main issue when it comes to car accidents. Things while driving can
happen in a matter of seconds, and if a driver is distracted, this
can be deadly. The steps being taken now to reduce the amount of
people on their phone is a start. When thinking of distractions, a
phone is not the only issue. Bright signs on the side of the road can
also be a cause of distraction for drivers. Adding regulations about
how close to the road and how bright these signs are may help
decrease the distractions that are caused by them. Just as discussed
before, having a good education of driving can allow people to
understand situations better and avoid accidents.

I
have had an experience being in a car accident. As I was leaving
school one day, a semi-truck ran a red light as I was turning on the
highway and ran over the front of my car. Thankfully I was not hurt
too badly in the accident, but I still suffer from back and knee
issues as a result. The accident was caused because the driver
thought they could make a yellow light that they could not, and
several seconds after the light had turned red, continued through the
intersection with a single honk of his horn. This points out the
danger of taking unnecessary risks while driving, and what they can
cause.

The
steps I can take to be a better driver are to always focus on what
I’m doing, double check to make sure no one is coming through a red
light and keep my passengers safe. It is very important to avoid
distractions and try to keep your eyes on the road. I have been
affected by someone who was being an irresponsible driver, but I keep
it with me to avoid hurting anyone myself while I am driving.