Name: Kobe Morgan
From: Overland Park, KS
Votes: 0
Morgan
1
With
Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Driving
is a privilege, not a right. Some vehicles weigh tons of pounds, and
most of them travel at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. The luxury of
owning these powerful vehicles comes with the exceedingly important
responsibility of maintaining them and learning how to operate them
safely. Drivers ed teaches prospective drivers how to
operate cars safely on the road, how to recognize the many situations
drivers will encounter while on the road, and how to act accordingly
in order to prevent injury or loss of life. By taking the time to
learn the ins and outs of our vehicles and the rules of the road we
can keep drivers safe.
I
believe that every driver should make it a habit of going through a
safety-mental-checklist every time they enter a vehicle to drive.
They should: buckle their seatbelts, check and ensure mirrors are at
the appropriate angles, adjust the driver’s seat so it is in a
comfortable position, eliminate all distractions, and make sure the
destination is known. By going through these steps before driving,
drivers will become more focused and comfortable; they will make
better decisions on the road and will not drive with haste. I also
believe that some vehicle manufacturers could add some features that
make it impossible to drive dangerously: an automatic do-not-disturb
mode for all phones that enter the car and headlights that turn on
automatically with the use of windshield wipers. (Many drivers fail
to turn on headlights in the rain, making them harder to spot.) With
these added safety features and the safety-mental-checklist, drivers
will be safer on the road.
Unfortunately,
I have been in a car accident. It was a rear-end accident last year,
and the driver was under the influence. One of the vehicles was
totaled but no one was hurt. This experience was nerve-wracking. I
hold it close in my heart because it serves as a reminder that
substances and cars do not mix. Therefore, I steer clear from
substances; and make sure those around me do the same. Driving is
already dangerous, let alone under the driving under the influence.
As
a college student, I enjoy listening to music. I listen to my
favorite songs to cope with the stresses of living a college
lifestyle. Since I cannot use my headphones while driving, I plug my
phone into my car’s auxiliary port to listen to music. I could
limit or eliminate my music to become a more focused driver. I could
also practice consciously and consistently using my mirrors to create
a 360 degree field-of-view. This field of view would keep all
surrounding cars in check while driving; keeping others and myself
safe. By going through a safety-mental-checklist, proposing safety
features to car manufacturers, taking drivers ed, and
encouraging others to form safe driving habits, I can make the roads
safe one driver at a time.
