Driver Education Initiative – Along the Winter Road

Along
the Winter Road

Bangor
falls almost directly in the center of the dense pines and rugged log
cabins of the frigid land known as Maine. If you are planning a visit
here, you must know winter engulfs us for nearly five to six months
out of the year and here our roads conditions are determined by
rolling dice, where one through six could be slush, ice, snow, and
sometimes hail. Then of course you must watch out for deer or the
occasional enraged beast that haunts the Maine woods, known here as
just black bears. If you somehow make it through these obstacles you
are luckier than most, because in all seriousness, Maine drivers
depend on driving safety a means to survive the winter.

Allow
me to introduce myself. My name is Aimee Ouellette and I am a senior
at Bangor High School who plans to attend a four-year college in the
fall of 2020 in hope to pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse. Growing
up in Maine, I have witnessed far too many driving accidents. In
fact, a senior in high school from the next town over passed away
this past Saturday while driving home at 7:30pm on a snowy November
night. He lost control of his car after almost hitting a deer and
died instantly on the scene, leaving our community devastated.
According to Maine Highway Safety, from November to March the
percentage of crashes increase from six to twelve percent. At this
moment, traffic crashes are the ninth leading cause of death
globally, but by 2030 they predict traffic crashes to raise to the
fifth leading cause of death. I think we can collectively agree it is
time for a change.

Living
in Maine, it’s hard to believe many people don’t know what to do
if they approach an animal on the road. During the winter months, it
is prime time to see a deer. According to the Maine motorist
handbook, if a crash with an animal is impending, steer straight and
apply the brakes. Let go of the brakes right before impact and try to
hit the tail end of the animal to reduce the risk of the animal
directly hitting the windshield. Cover your face to protect yourself
from the debris. Many people unfortunately don’t know this and end
up veering the car off the road; usually a deadly decision.

Driving
is not a right but a privilege. By not understanding road safety, you
won’t only put yourself in danger, but also the lives of others. If
it is winter, make sure you have proper snow tires on. Use your low
beams in snow, slow down, and pump the brakes on and off if sliding.
Driving takes the lives of too many which means it is up to us to
spread awareness of the importance of driver’s safety. By driving
responsibly and with caution, you are saving lives.