Name: Maia Zeunik
From: Clayton, IN
Votes: 0
There
are numerous steps that can and should be taken, to instill safe
driving in our beginners from the start. The first and most obvious
step that should be taken in order to ensure that the importance of
safe driving is stressed to our drivers, is their education. Our
student drivers must be taught the safe and correct ways in which to
operate their own personal vehicle, along with knowing how to react
when encountering reckless drivers, and how to safely avoid
precarious situations. Good habits should be instilled in our drivers
before there is a chance for bad habits to arouse. The number of
deaths involving motor vehicles dramatically declines when people do
their part to play it safe on our roads. When they do not, one hears
on the news about all the accidents involving drunk drivers, or
people who were distracted while they were driving, and the
consequences are devastating. Oftentimes, these instances result in
the loss of one or more people, leaving their families to suffer that
loss for the rest of their lives.
Laws
against reckless driving, texting and driving, driving under the
influence, and laws regarding seat belts are all steps that are
generally taken to reduce the number of deaths involving motor
vehicles. If everyone does their own part, however, this number would
be reduced even more. People who have been drinking need to be
diligent about finding someone who is sober to give them a ride home.
Situational awareness should be taught to our youth, and must be
applied especially when operating a vehicle. Cell phones, which most
people in today’s society struggle to put down, must be off limits
in the car no matter what. They are the leading distraction to
people nowadays while driving.
Just
a few months ago, I was in an accident because I failed to be
situationally aware of my surroundings. I did not clear an
intersection as well as I should have, and therefore I was T-boned
and spun into a third vehicle. Thankfully, there were no
life-threatening injuries; however, two out of the three vehicles
involved were totaled, including my own. I have been told by several
people, including emergency personnel and another witness to the
accident, that had the third car not been there to interrupt the
momentum of my spinning car, I would have probably rolled my car and
very likely have lost my life.
Steps
that I can take having moved forward from this incident, are safer,
more aware driving practices. Despite the fact that I was not on my
phone at the time of the accident, I have made a personal rule not to
ever be on my phone until I am parked somewhere safe. I have also
been working on becoming more situationally aware of my surroundings,
and focusing on other drivers instead of just myself, although in
this area there is still much room for improvement. The grave
importance of safe driving should never be made trivial.
