Over in an Instant

Over
in an Instant

When
I first got my drivers license, I was overjoyed. Driving meant more
freedom, staying out later, depending less on my parents. However, I
knew that driving also comes with a huge responsibility. Gaining a
comprehensive education about the rules and dangers of the road is
crucial to reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. For
example, if two drivers were to arrive at a four way stop at the same
time, and one of the drivers was unsure about who was supposed to go
first, it could result in an accident. It is extremely important to
know what to do in any situation you might come across. It is also
vital to have confidence in yourself and your decisions. When I was
first learning to drive, I knew all of the rules of the road, but I
was still hesitant when it came to applying them. It made me nervous
that you never really know what anyone else is going to do. As I
gained faith in myself, my nerves began to dissipate, leaving me to
become a confident but still very cautious driver.

The
extremely high number of highway fatalities is so shocking and
saddening. When I was taking my drivers ed course, my
instructor advised me to never drive when I am tired or angry.
Driving tired could result in accidental swerving of your car into
other lanes or not being aware of your speed. Driving angry could
result in rash decisions or defensive driving. However, most people
do not think of their emotions as something that could seriously
impact their driving. If more people realized the implications of
these simple things, I believe the number of accidents and therefore
the number of driving related deaths would be significantly reduced.

Earlier
this year, a group of students from my school were out driving late
at night when they went too fast around a corner and crashed. Their
car overturned and rolled down a hill off of the road. A few of them
sustained serious injuries, and one of them passed away. It was a
horrible thing that our community had to go through; to this day it
feels unbelievable. Someone who I passed in the hallways every day,
who I sat next to in class, who meant so much to so many people, was
gone just like that. It showed me the full extent of the dangers of
driving and how important it is to always be aware and careful.

Personally,
I can work on staying completely focused while driving and not
allowing myself to be distracted by music or other people in the car.
In addition, I can make sure I am always watching my speed and never
letting my emotions interfere with my driving. I believe that driving
is a great privilege and while it can be fun, it is not to be taken
lightly.