Name: Joy Schwebach
From: Hayward, Wisconsin
Votes: 0
Be
the Difference
As
long as we have vehicles on our roads, their will always be a
question about their safety. One question that I will be answering
in this essay is about the importance of drivers ed and how it
contributes to making our drivers safer. I will also talk about the
importance of educating our drivers on accidents as well as some
insight into an accident I was in. Another other issue that will be
discussed is how to reduce the number of deaths caused by vehicles.
This will include some things that are already in motion as well as a
few ideas that might not be. I will also talk about something that I
do currently to help my friends become safer drivers. I do these
things because I want to be the difference.
The
importance of drivers ed is to teach new drivers how to legally
drive. I’m sure that we could allow parents to teach their children
how to drive and then show up to the DMV on their birthday and take
the road test. They might pass, but how safe would our new drivers
be? For example, when my dad taught me to drive I was 11. He let me
drive the old farm truck out into the field and back with a load of
firewood. I was told there is the gas, there is the brake, and push
the brake to put the truck into gear. I was also taught to back-up a
vehicle by using the mirrors. As I got older the ride got smoother
and I could back up straighter. I could have then went to the DMV on
my 16th birthday and completed the road test; no guarantee I would
have passed it. Because on the rules that are established, I went
through drivers ed. I learned how to correct a skid, how to
avoid going into a skid, when to start breaking, how to communicate
to other drivers my intentions via blinker, the safe amount of tread
to have on your tires, how and when to check your blind spots, when
to have your headlights on, and a variety of other information that
have allowed me to become a safer driver. Without the knowledge of
road safety, how fast would I have been in an accident or worse,
killed in an accident. I am thankful that I went through drivers
education so that I am able to do my part in keeping our roads safe.
Even
though I went through drivers ed and do my best to stay safe
behind the wheel, I was involved in an accident December 2017. I got
my license on June 16, 2015 so it was a little over two and a half
years after I got my license. My friend, my sister, and I were on our
way to do some shopping. I was driving and had just merged onto the
off ramp of I-94. Traffic was backed up and I was on the brake.
Before I knew it I was sandwiched in between two cars. Its crazy how
fast accidents happen. I remember how it felt that everything was in
slow motion as I stared at the car in front of me, my friend, my
sister. I remember having to remind myself to breathe. I remember
after what seemed like an eternity I got out of my vehicle and was
talking to the other drivers; thankfully we were all okay. Now I look
back and I think about how people get into accidents and get out, but
the other person can not because of an injury or worse. I cannot
imagine what I would have done or how I would have felt. This is why
I feel that reducing the amount of deaths that occur on our roadways
are important.
I
believe that we are on the right path to reducing the number of
deaths related to driving.
There
are many insurance companies that are giving out discounts when you
practice safe driving techniques like gentle braking and
acceleration, smooth maneuvers, and ease around corners. Other
actions that are helping reduce the number of deaths due to driving
are the advances in technology. Technology has advanced to allow us
to put our phones in driving mode and in newer vehicles, there are
safety features built in. Even though people are putting down the
phones and buying vehicles with advanced technology that does not
stop the number one culprit to deaths on our road way: alcohol.
Granted,
that my generation is no longer stealing our of age older siblings
drivers license, picking up our friends, hitting up a liquor, and
“booze cruising” around town all night, but somehow alcohol is
still the number one killer in vehicle deaths. Alcohol has been
around for ages; there is no way to stop people from drinking it. It
is a drug, it affects your speech, reaction time, thought process,
and much more. When you are drinking you are no longer you, but
instead you are alcohol. The only was to reduce the number of deaths
on our roadways is to keep alcohol out of the drivers’ seat. One
way to do this is to make drunk driving uncool. So many people think
that drunk driving should qualify you for a metal. By releasing ads
stating how lame drunk driving is or even ads that target the parents
of “fur babies.” Many people in today’s world treat their pets
just like the older generations treat their kids. By advertising how
disappointed your dog would be in you or how they wont understand why
you did not come home may help reduce the amount of alcohol behind
the wheel. I also think that introducing “Ubers” or “Lyfts”
have helped dramatically reduce the amount of people that feel the
need to drive drunk. This is why I will always offer to be the
designated driver.
Being
a designated driver is just one way I try to keep our roads safe. If
people have a trustworthy designated driver, they are more likely to
call upon sai person instead of getting behind the wheel. When I am
hosting a party, I like to collect the keys from the people drinking.
This way I can insure that they are not leaving while intoxicated.
I also invite my guest to spend the night if they have been drinking.
I would rather know that my friends are safe under my roof then
worried about them making it home or getting the news that they did
not make it home. Another thing I do to help others be safe behind
the wheel is offer to text for them. I have had plenty of friends
pick up their phone while they are driving. I always offer to
respond to the message for them. If it is their significant other
they my blush and put the phone down, but at least they are not
responding to the text. Depending of the level of friendship and
trust that you have built, they might let you respond. Responding to
a text for a friend may be awkward at first, but it is better than
being in the passenger seat of a distracted driver.
To
wrap things up, drivers ed is the first step in ensuring that
we are filling our roads with safe, knowledgeable drivers. This
important step can be crucial to giving drivers the information that
they will need in order to operate successfully behind the wheel.
Drivers ed is important, but that does not mean that there
will not be any accidents. Drivers need to be prepared for how fast
accidents can happen. They also need to know what to expect and how
to react when this crisis happens to them. Although we are equipping
cars with new technology to prevent accidents and insurance companies
giving rewards or discounts for safe driving, there is still room for
improvement. I truly believe that we need to target drunk driving
inorder to see a reduction in death on our roads. Also on the
subject of safe roads and drunk driving, do not be afraid to step up
and be the different in safe driving. Whether I am designated driver
for my friends, giving them a place to stay so they do not have to
drive drunk, or simply asking if I could respond the their texts, I
believe that I am making the difference and helping make our roads
safer.
