Name: Asha McGinnis
From: Kapaa, Hawaii
Votes: 0
The
Dangers of The Road
Driver
education is a crucial factor in reducing the number of deaths
related to driving. Cars are powerful machines and must be operated
responsibly in order to ensure safety on the roads. However, many
drivers are unaware of the risks of unsafe driving. Nearly 7,000 car
accident related injuries occur daily nationwide, leaving America
with an average of over a hundred car accident fatalities every day.
New drivers especially must become further educated on the importance
of safe and responsible driving in order to keep the public safe.
According
to Newsroom, “Young drivers who have not completed driver’s
education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24
percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and
16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed.” This
study provides us with statistics that demonstrate the importance of
drivers ed. Continuing, car accidents are the leading cause of
teen deaths and account for almost 40,000 deaths annually on average.
There
are countless steps that can be taken to further improve the safety
of our public. Texting and driving as well as drunk driving are two
extremely common causes of car accidents. Educating drivers of the
dangers of these behaviors is key in reducing the number of
fatalities caused by car accidents. Furthermore, practicing safe
driving and encouraging your family and friends to do the same can
help ensure safety on the road. Eliminating possible distractions can
also help make the road a safer place. By mapping the route before
beginning the drive, vehicle operators eliminate the distraction of
looking at a map or GPS while driving.
In
my lifetime, which has only been slightly more than seventeen years,
I have been in two car accidents. The first car accident I was in was
caused when the operator of the vehicle I was in rear ended the van
in front of us. She glanced away from the road for just a split
second, and that second could have cost us our lives. Luckily, we
were driving at a minimal speed which helped reduce injuries as well
as damage. The passengers in the car, including myself, as well as
the van in front of us, did not face any serious injuries. However,
we were very lucky and it could have been worse. Continuing to the
second car accident I was in, my friend who had just recently earned
her license was driving. The road was wet and slippery due to rain
and mud, and we were listening and singing to music having a good
time. She was driving over the speed limit, and quickly lost control
of her car.We first hit the side of the road which was a small mud
hill. She then over corrected the turn and next thing I knew, we were
heading straight for a telephone pole at a high speed. My first
thought to myself was “do I have enough time to put my seatbelt
on?” I knew that there was no time for me to successfully buckle my
seatbelt. The driver turned her steering wheel as hard as she could
away from the telephone pole, and we missed it. We found ourselves
sideways in a grass ditch next to the telephone pole. Climbing out of
the car was difficult because we were sideways and the doors were
bent and heavy, but we made it out. The damage of the car was beyond
repair.
I
utilize these horrible memories as lessons to remind myself the
importance of safe driving. I plan on always reminding others to
fasten their seatbelts and practice responsible driving habits. There
are countless steps that everyone can and should take in order to
further provide themselves and others with the most safety possible.
Eliminating distractions, educating drivers, and avoiding dangerous
situations are steps that every driver should take seriously. I hope
that the number of deaths related to car accidents decreases quickly.
