Name: Keziah-Khue Nguyen
From: Vancouver, WA
Votes: 0
When
I drove for the first time, 15 miles per an hour felt like mach 5.
Every slight adjustment to the wheel felt like I sent the car
swinging. However, as I continue to drive, the careful defensive
driver gave way to a more lazy impatient driver. This attitude,
present in many drivers, causes distracted driving and ultimately
accidents.
In
Washington, the law requires all teen drivers to attend driving
school. In these classes, I taught the rules of the road and the
proper reactions for emergency situations. Driving school is
extremely important as it provides a common ground of rules for all
drivers. Understanding the rules in the same manner as other drivers
allowed me to join the existing order and safety of the roads. It is
equally important to know how to react during times of crisis. Having
these skills about the emergencies allows me to react instinctively
in the correct manner because every second counts before an accident.
Although
enforced driving school is one way to decrease the number of teen
deaths related to driving, there are other ways to reduce the death
rate overall. On an occasion, I went on an observational drive with
another student driver. The student had only driven three times and
was very shaky behind the wheel. When we arrived at a four-way stop,
they breezed right through without the hesitation they had at the
green lights. I was so scared the other cars would hit us. I think
the student driver would have been more weary if they had heard
stories about accidents from ignored stop signs. We should publicize
the dangers of driving with real life examples. It creates a more
personal connection for drivers to see other the real effects of
injury and death. Additionally, we should have higher driving exam
standards. It only takes 80% to pass. This leaves room for fatal
mistakes like forgetting to check blind spots and improper lane
control. More of the dangerous mistakes should become automatic
failures and the percentage should be raised to 90%.
I
have taken steps to being safe through my actions as the passenger
and my usage of apps. As a passenger, I prevent the driver from
taking their hands off the wheel. I change the radio, control the
windows, and find the sunglasses. Additionally, I take advantage of
apps. Chevy has an app named the Call Me Out app. This app detects
the car’s movements, and when the driver attempts to use their
phone, a pre-recorded message from a friend tells them to stop. The
personalized caring message reminds the driver of the dangers
involved in distracted driving.
Because
I am not a perfect driver, like many others on the road, there are
many ways to increase safe driving. I have tools to change my
attitude while driving and ideas about how to help others as well.
Driving is a convenience, but it is a risky convenience. We have to
take the utmost care while behind the wheel.
