Name: Davin Lassila
From: Prosper, TX
Votes: 0
Firstly,
I would like to say this: driving is not supposed to be treated like
a game. It is extremely unsafe and if we do not follow the rules of
the road properly, fatal accidents will occur. Drivers ed is
important for that exact reason; it is meant to educate future
drivers for doing the right thing on the road. I myself have already
been in two car accidents that could have been easily preventable.
During the first accident, I was stopped at a red light and once it
turned green, I pressed on the gas pedal to accelerate the car. The
problem was the car did not move, so I hit the brakes quickly. When
the brakes did not work, I rolled into the car behind me. By simply
putting on the emergency brakes, the car would not have rolled
backwards, even if it was faulty. The second accident was a lot more
dangerous, and could have ended differently than it did. The accident
happened on a day that felt the exact same as any other, until the
moment of the crash. Everything goes by in a blur when life flashes
between death. I was driving to school as usual when the truck in
front of me slammed on his brakes right before the turn onto the
school road. Every human has a reaction time, even if some have
better than others, and on that day I found out my reaction time was
what stopped me from hitting the truck. By following too close to the
truck, I put myself in a petrified position that could have cost my
life. All it would have taken was a 1 second difference in braking,
and I might not be here today. Even if I did not hit the truck, the
three second scene that has changed the way I drive completely was
not over. The girl behind my car in the same moment I slammed on my
brakes had to slam on hers as well. She broke just seconds too late
and slammed into the back of my car, which had enough force to move
my stopped car into the truck. Even if I was not considered the
person at fault for the accident, I know now to stay more aware of
the road and keep a greater following distance incase another event
like that happens again. To become a better driver, practice and
patience is all it takes because the more mistakes that we make, the
more we can learn. By knowing the rules of the road and paying
wholehearted attention in drivers ed, we can all drive safer
and prevent avertible accidents and deaths on the road. A great way
to spread the word of safe driving could be by informing the people
driving the car if they are doing something wrong. One mistake is all
it takes; one second too late, and a life could be in your hands.
