Name: Oreoluwa Deborah Babatunde
From: Chula Vista, CA
Votes: 0
There
are many ways driving can go, but if not handled accordingly, can
result in a serious accident. Unfortunately, driving is a huge leader
in causes for death. I’ve always wondered why driving is allowed
when it can cause so much danger to people and damage to the
environment. The transparent reason is because driving is a tool; a
tool that helps people move from one place to another. With that, we
must keep in mind that cars are weapons, and knowing how to drive
them is what will keep everyone safe.
Driving
is definitely a process, and although difficult, isn’t impossible.
When you first learn how to drive, it’s nerve wracking because of
all the pressure that is on you. No one is perfect driving their
first time, so practice is needed to become a good driver.
When
you first start driving, you may be tempted to speed. Not only will
speeding give you a ticket, it can also lead to an accident. Whether
you are an experienced driver or not, when speeding in a car, you can
easily lose control. Everyone makes mistakes, so driving according to
the speed limit is vital, and will reduce the frequency of accidents.
Just
as important as it is to follow speed limits, it is important to obey
the signs and laws of the road. No matter what your day is like,
listening to what the road tells you is essential to keeping everyone
safe.
A
good driver is calm and collected. When driving, one needs to
understand that there will be scenarios that they don’t see coming,
and therefore they must be ready for. Every time you drive, you need
to be prepared for unforeseen occurrence.
One
day, I was fortunate to have made a mistake in my driveway instead of
someone else’s. I don’t know if I was feeling ok, but that day, I
crashed into my garage, with a bush as a cushion. I thought that I
had parked the car, but as I opened the door and got out, the car
kept moving forward. I panicked and forgot whether I was supposed to
put my foot on the accelerator or the brakes, and clearly on how to
park. Although my garage wasn’t broken, I had still caused some
damage. I know that if I would have kept calm, and understood that
all I had to do was park the car, I wouldn’t have had that accident
in the first place. Anything can happen, and it’s good to be ready.
A
part of being prepared is being open- minded. When driving, everyone
is automatically accident-prone. Whether you’re in traffic, driving
in the rain, driving up or down a hill, driving in snow, or even
slowing down to a stop, anyone and anything can appear out of
nowhere. In order to ensure you are ready for anything, you must
remain focused.
Always
be ready, and expect the unexpected. Driving requires you to use your
sense of smell, hearing, and sight. If you make sure to give your
undivided attention, you can ensure that you are aware of everything
that’s going on around you. That’s a major key to driving, being
aware of your surroundings. A common issue with driving, is being on
your phone. Texting and driving is incredibly dangerous, and will get
in the way of your focus on the road.
Make
sure to always wear your seat belt. The seat belt is probably one of
the biggest benefits that I take for granted. Although it’s always
within my reach, I treat it as if it’s a hassle to put on. The
thing is, seat belts keep me safe, and they provide me with
protection even before airbags are activated.
Lastly,
another good tip is to become familiar with the car you’re driving.
It is important to understand the functionality of your car because
every car is different. It is good to know where your hazard button,
wiper blade and turn signal function is. More importantly, it’s good
to know how to safely park, how big your car is, and the capabilities
each button and feature your car has.
Driving
isn’t a simple task, so becoming even decent at it does not happen
overnight. As long as you are familiar with your surroundings, aware
of your situation, calm, and obeying the rules of the road, you are
bound to have a successful experience. Keep an open mind and be
prepared to act, when needed, to any circumstance you are thrown
into.
