Early Education and No Distractions

Early
Education and No Distractions

Megan
Hahn

It
is self-explanatory that the more exposure to a topic leads to a
better understanding and execution in practicum. On the subject of
driving the combination of rote memorization, practical experience,
judicial obedience, and situational awareness can make for a safe and
competent driver. Sadly not everyone has the resources or ability to
practice each category equally. Although “situational awareness”
is a vital practice, it is temporally relative and cannot be
adequately reviewed in the final licensing exam. A weakness in one or
more of these subjects gives full rein to a driver who may fall into
the category of one who knows “just enough to get into trouble.”
A drivers formal education may be brief, but the education should
never end. One must constantly absorb and react to information on the
road in order to be safe and avoid vehicular injury and death.

I
believe teaching children about vehicles at a young age will greatly
increase their awareness and interest in using vehicles effectively
and safely. Anecdotally, my own education began years before I could
drive a car. It began with a bicycle on ice, snow mobiles in
snowstorms, four-wheelers on fine-grained sand, and a tractor in
muddy fields. I drove on all textures and treads before ever touching
a car steering wheel. I believe that exposure to all forms of nature
and taking responsibility for my equipment at a young age gave me the
ability to observe and adapt to any road condition. Naturally I
believe that everyone would benefit by learning to drive small
off-road vehicles at a young age. Allowing children, in the safest
way possible, to take control of small machinery gives them the
opportunity to pass through their learning curve with minimal risk to
fellow drivers already on the road.

My
family takes safety seriously. Our vehicles are well maintained,
emergency supplies and equipment are always in the trunk, and my
siblings and I were taught about road safety from the time we learned
to ride bikes. Despite years of preparation one accident hangs over
our heads. In early 2009 my 24-year old cousin was victim to an
inattentive driver. At an green-lighted intersection the driver
coming in the opposite direction turned left and crossed in front of
my cousin and his motorcycle. This caused my cousin to T-bone the
larger vehicle killing him on impact. No alcohol was involved, but
when cellphone use came into question “no contest” was pled and
charges were quickly settled.

Even
before the accident I found cellphone use while driving to be
abhorred. Now I find it completely unacceptable. The excuse might be
made that “in an emergency situation it is justified.” I say,
“poppycock.” An emergency is a time when a person should be
especially attentive. A second emergency is the last thing needed
while dealing with the first. I have vowed to never use a cellphone
while driving a vehicle and I encourage everyone to do the same.