Name: Emily Nguyen
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Votes: 0
In
The Driver’s Seat
“Drive
slow and enjoy the scenery-drive fast and join the scenery,” a
powerful quote stated by Douglas Horton. Most people aren’t aware
that car accidents are one of the top leading causes of death. We
tend to take things like driving for granted. We don’t realize the
importance of safe driving or being careful until we witness
something with our own eyes or experience it ourselves. However, I
believe that if everyone took the time to learn about the importance
of safe driving, then we can prevent a precious life from being
confiscated.
Safe
driving doesn’t just mean knowing the rules of the road, or making
sure to not listen to loud music, it’s being aware of yourself in
order to not put others in danger. In the year 2016, just around
Christmas time, I had a school friend unfortunately pass away, along
with two other girls in the car. When I heard the news of such a
beautiful soul pass away at such a young age to a car accident, I was
devastated. One of the teenage girls was driving on a dark road, and
allegedly they were intoxicated. One moment they were all laughing,
the next their life flashed before their eyes, as they skidded off
the road and into a tree. It was foolish for such an incident to
occur because it could’ve been prevented.
You could be skeptical about learning the importance of safe driving
because you think that you are a skilled driver. However, take the
time to think about the people that you love. Think about them
receiving the news that you were involved in a fatal car accident. Or
maybe think about the loved ones of the person you crashed into
because you were being irresponsible. Many people think that going to
a drivers ed class is boring, especially teenagers, who are
most at risk for causing accidents. However, it is very important for
everyone to take time to go to a class. Not only will you prevent
accidents, you will gain more experience and therefore have more
confidence on the road.
In
order to better yourself, as well as help others to become a safer
driver, there are additional steps to take. Learn to be patient and
control road rage. If you were to let your emotions get in the way
while you’re driving, you aren’t thinking straight which could
lead to an accident. The most obvious of all is to practice no
texting and driving. Your phone is a major distraction, and that text
isn’t worth looking at over a life. Another helpful tip is to know
how your car works. Sounds easy, but it’s something that a lot of
people overlook. For example, if your tires were to go out, try to
maintain a straight line and slow your speed. To reduce the number of
deaths related to driving, be aware of driving laws, avoid
distractions, and drive with the intent of being fully responsible.
