Name: Amy Moylan
From: Bismarck, ND
Votes: 0
“I’ll just look
down for a second to check my phone.” “I’ll just send back to
this text quick.” “I need to lean and grab my water bottle.”
These situations are not dangerous in and of themselves; however,
imagine all of these happening to a driver in a car, and you may
think differently.
We’ve all been
there, feeling the temptation of taking a quick glance at our phone
in the car, or even unbuckling at a stoplight to reach a snack that
fell in the backseat. These activities seem harmless at the time, but
that instant you glance at your phone could be the same instant a
child runs out in the road, and your and his lives are forever
changed.
The number of deaths
that result from reckless driving is terribly high, and there are
many precautions that can be taken to reduce the risk of car
accidents. To begin, drivers ed is key. Simply educating young
drivers about the effects of distracted driving, the importance of
defensive driving, and the number of car fatalities would be very
helpful to decrease the risk of reckless driving. Prior to even
getting behind the wheel, young people should understand the basic
mechanics of a car, how long it takes to stop at various speeds, and
the importance of following the speed limits. A student wishing to
achieve a permit should have to take a thorough test about being a
safe driver, in addition to the brief test about rules of the road.
Also, speed limits should be lowered on interstates to allow drivers
to have more control of their vehicles. Dangerous lack of visibility
is created due to parked cars blocking drivers’ viewpoints, and I
believe that parked cars should only be allowed on very wide streets.
I have not
personally been involved in a car accident, but I have been
indirectly affected by many, with a family member passing away from a
car accident as an example. I have been in the car when the driver
goes over the speed limit to make a light, drifts to the side of the
road, and is almost pushed off the road by a semi-truck on the
interstate.
To become a better
and safe driver and to help those around me do the same, I can begin
by leading through example. Placing my phone out of reach in the car
so it does not distract me and doing my best to not be in a rush
while driving would be a start. Besides leading by example, it is
important to gently encourage others to be defensive drivers. Just by
doing something as simple as gently pointing to a friend when they
are drifting to the side of the road can help both them and you
become more attentive while driving. Driving safety is crucial to our
community and is instrumental in saving lives on the road.
