Name: Grace Wegner
From: Butternut, Wisconsin
Votes: 0
Grace
Wegner
11/21/19
Encouraging
Safe Drivers
Life
these days revolves around transportation. Two hundred years
ago, we traveled by horse and buggy; cars weren’t even invented.
Now, we rely heavily on cars and buses to get us to work, to visit
family, or to go to the grocery store. Since we use them so often, we
should start to seriously consider how dangerous they are and think
of how we can decrease driver deaths and accidents.
Driver
education is the first step to entering the driving world. Most
drivers must go through a drivers ed class in order to get
their license. Getting this education is key to raising good
drivers. These classes offer knowledge that will help stop dumb
accidents from happening. They give information that prevent
accidents due to driver error. Therefore, drivers ed is very
important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving.
Outside
of educating new drivers, we can also continue to educate current
drivers on changing laws, technology, and techniques. This will
help ensure that all drivers are on the same page while on the road.
Another step that can be taken to reduce accidents is integrating
driver safety into school curriculum. If students started to
learn about driving younger, say in 7th grade, their knowledge and
understanding about laws and techniques would be much greater than
starting in 9th grade. By learning about driving many years in a
row, they’re more likely to remember and comprehend more.
Aside
from education, driving cautious is another way to make the roads
safer. Things like driving slower in bad weather conditions,
wearing a seatbelt, not driving under the influence, and knowing
where you’re going are simple actions that can make you a safer
driver. If you are a driver, don’t tailgate or cut people
off; go slow when the roads are icy or it’s raining. If you are a
passenger, don’t try to show the driver something on the phone or
cause the driver to look away from the road. If you are talking
to someone who is driving, stop texting them. Keep them off their
phone, or at the very most, call them. Finally, don’t pressure
anyone who is driving to do something dangerous. Sure, it might not
cause a crash this time, but eventually it will. Better to be safe
than dead.
I
have been fortunate enough to not have been in a serious car
accident, either driving or as a passenger. However, I still
take steps to ensure that I don’t cause an accident and that I am
safe if I do. Living in northern Wisconsin, I hear of accidents
daily due to deer or icy roads. Those are accidents that cannot
be helped. Hearing of an accident caused by a distracted driver is
heartbreaking because you know that that accident could have been
prevented. We must start thinking about other drivers on the roads
and put the distractions away.
