Name: Chaniya Williams
From: Oxford, NC
Votes: 0
Imagine.
The crumpled body of an innocent civilian underneath the debris of a
tragic wreck; A wreck you so carelessly caused. A gruesome image,
right? No one wants to be the perpetrator of an accidental crime. In
fact, many people don’t believe they could ever be the reason for a
lifetime of trauma. How do we reduce these fatalities? By being an
active participant in our own drivers ed.
While
many teens see drivers ed as an inconvenient and boring
requirement, there are several aspects within this education that
lead to a lifetime of safety. Drivers ed provides students
with the ability to be both confident and responsible behind the
wheel. Your knowledge of signs, rules, and safety guidelines will be
tested. How comfortable are you when you approach traffic signs? How
well do you obey traffic laws in your state? Do you show great care
to pedestrians when they have the right of way? Abiding by the above
creates a generation of mindful drivers, thus reducing our numbers of
car related deaths.
Driver’s
education alone is not enough to combat senseless death. Evaluating
your behaviors while behind the wheel is one step to reducing the
number of driving related death. Behaviors such as driving under the
influence or texting while driving are conscious choices we choose to
make. While taking a quick glance at the screen seems harmless, those
few seconds could mean your life changing forever. While you may be a
“good” driver and have driven drunk multiple times, you are not
invincible. The one night you decide to drive drunk may be your last.
Alcohol will save your body from the immense damage that you might
cause. Yet, your victims won’t be granted that same privilege.
Thankfully,
I have only experienced one minor accident in my life. While
observing a pedestrian walking along the road, my mom rear-ended a
vehicle that had made an abrupt stop. Instead of being aware of all
of her surroundings, my mom made the mistake of focusing on only one
feature of her environment. An accident like this allowed me to carry
several acknowledgements into my own driving. It additionally allowed
me to converse with my mom about the risks that she took when she
chose to speed or be distracted by electronic devices.
I
start my journey as a safe driver by realizing that the automotive
world isn’t just about me. When you allow yourself to be an active
driver on the road, you utilize the education you’ve received.
Everyday, I can work toward being a better driver by working on my
driving technique such as sharp turns and hard braking. I can always
benefit from getting reacquainted with signs I’m unsure of by
reviewing my driver’s booklet.
Death
does not discriminate when it comes to who’s crumpled body is
who’s. By putting an emphasis on my safety, I can persuade others
to put an emphasis on their safety too.
