Learn How to Drive Safely

Learn
How to Drive Safely

Many
don’t realize that they are put at risk every day when they are in
the driver’s seat. Reckless drivers are everywhere, and we must
take caution to our surroundings every time we get behind the wheel.
There are many ways to prevent an accident from happening, but one
must be prepared and some ways to be prepared are by taking Driver’s
Education and using the IPDE (identify, predict, decide, and execute)
process.

Driver’s
Education has taught me how to be safe on the road and prevent
accidents from happening. During the class I found that the
information I learned about truly helped me when it came to be behind
the wheel. The driving part of the class taught me how to drive and
handle a vehicle in different types of weather. I also experienced
back roads and dirt roads within this process. By taking what I
learned in the class and incorporating it into my daily driving, I
have found that I drive safely and legally. I’ve become more aware
of my surroundings and notice when someone doesn’t drive correctly.
One important topic learned within the class was IPDE. This process
is where one learns to identify what is happening. Next, they predict
what could or will happen, and then they decide what they are going
to do in the situation. Finally, one goes through by executing their
decision which is hopefully going to save them from an accident.
Although, one doesn’t always have much time to go through a whole
process when something tragic is about to happen, but the IPDE
process is all part of the mind and how we use it with our advantage.
What we don’t realize is that we use this process every time we
drive because it is all part of our daily driving habits, for the
most part. There comes a time when some don’t use their IPDE
process correctly and cause danger for other drivers within their
range. That’s when we need to focus on our IPDE process more.
Drivers ed has been very beneficial for me and others who
have taken it, so you should too.

Many
do make mistakes while driving but some are worse than others.
Although we should not have any distractions while driving, using a
cellular device tends to be one of the worse and irresistible
distractions. I have witnessed my friends use them, especially when I
am in the car with them. In my opinion I automatically feel
endangered when they pick up the phone even when it’s just to
change a song, yet I feel powerless mentioning something because they
always have a response to them using their phone and think everything
is okay. But it’s not. They don’t realize that within one second
they could hit a deer, a stopped car, a ditch, a pedestrian, or even
ice if the weather is bad. They tend to think that they’re all okay
if they just keep looking up and down repeatedly, but, they’re not.
Unless they are looking to die today, I’m sure not. Not only do
they need to look out for themselves but also those who may be in the
car with them because they are putting other lives at risk of harm or
death. I haven’t been in any accidents while I’m behind the wheel
but that doesn’t mean I want to be in one either. Whether it’s me
driving or my friend or a family member, driving can be quite nerve
racking if one isn’t careful.

Texting
isn’t always a reason for accidents, other objects or animals can
cause them too. I remember my first car accident, although it was a
blessing because there was only damage done to the door, a deer had
come out from the side while I was riding with a family member and
hit and tumbled along the passenger door. No one was hurt but one
realizes how much shock they are in with their heart racing and not
knowing what to do because it’s a near death experience even if
you’re not hurt. But the driver wasn’t driving irresponsibly,
they were driving under the speed limit and being alert. What we
don’t realize is that accidents can even happen when we are most
alert or even paranoid. Other objects or people can be the cause of
the accident, you just have to be aware of these possibilities.
Another time I was riding with my friend and surprisingly she wasn’t
using her phone, but it was nighttime, and she was driving fast on a
secondary road with woods close to the road. I understand she may
have been comfortable because she was driving home but neither did I
know what was going through her mind. Before I knew it there were two
deer walking along the side of the road on the opposite side and I
pointed them out to her so that she would slow, but she didn’t. She
became aware of one of them but not the one slowly walking out in
front of us while she’s still hitting the 55mph. We came closer and
closer to the deer, but she wasn’t even honking the car horn or
slowing or anything. I was trying to warn her but it’s as if she
was in a daze. Thankfully, we just missed it by it’s tail but it
all happened so fast yet lingered to where in that moment thoughts
were racing faster than what was happening and I wasn’t sure what
was going to happen except envisioning the deer flying up onto the
windshield and killing us and the two friends in the back seat. We
must learn to also be cautious with our speeds and be aware of the
time of day since we are unable to see as well in night than in the
daytime.

Taking
Drivers ed and having experiences from driving or riding
with others gives the help and learning experience that one needs
when it comes to being safe on the road.