Name: Amaya Cooper
From: New Orleans, LA
Votes: 0
Amaya
Cooper
November
30, 2019
Eyes
on the Road
I
distinctly remember my junior year of high school seeing everyone get
their brand-new cars and shiny, laminated driver licenses, while I
was still taking drivers ed. I would see my friends zooming
recklessly through school zones with their eyes glued their phones,
instead of their surroundings. I felt so left out at the time, but
little did I know, I would learn a lot about the importance of safe
driving from their mistakes.
While
many young learning drivers complain that drivers ed is
long-drawn-out, little do they know the importance of the information
they are learning. Drivers ed does more than teach you about using
your turn signals and how to read road signs. Instead, it focuses on
the importance of attentiveness and defense in driving, as well as to
always watch your surroundings from every perspective. The emphasis
on attentiveness in this course serves as a factor to help greatly
reduce the number of deaths caused by driving. If a driver is alert
and conscious, the likelihood of them getting into an accident is
low. By paying attention, one can act quickly and safely to avoid a
possible collision, a luxury an inattentive driver doesn’t have.
While
I haven’t been present during a car accident, I have been in the
car with irresponsible drivers. For example, no matter where we’d
be driving, my mother was always busy tapping on her phone, not
paying attention to the road. She’d be so caught up in her device
that we would almost get into accidents. Even though she knew the
deadly risks of distracted driving, she couldn’t bring herself to
put her phone down. This is the same problem many drivers have as
well.
According
to statistics, distracted driving is responsible for approximately
3,500 deaths a year. This cannot continue. One resolution is to
implement a program into all cars that doesn’t allow drivers to use
any of its functions when their phone is in use. The program would
connect to the driver’s phone and vocalize their notifications so
the driver wouldn’t even have to touch it. There should also be a
program installed in phones that allows the driver to vocally respond
to notifications, so their attention is still on the road instead of
their phone screen. I feel that these technological improvements in
our everyday tools could greatly decrease the number of deaths by
distraction and allow a safer driving experience.
Ways
I could be a safer and better driver for my surroundings is to ensure
that I am always focused. Just one second of distraction could lead
to a deathly accident. I can also do my part by informing and
correcting others on their unsafe driving habits. Complacency is just
as bad as the act itself. People are more likely to listen to a peer
which could persuade them to be a safer driver for the environment.
Overall, by simply being the best driver I could be and being a
caring friend, I could make an impact on the lives around me. Driving
shouldn’t be something to fear because of the actions of others.
All you must do is stay focused and keep your eyes on the road.
