Safety in the Driver’s Seat

Alexia-Chanel Gelao

07/28/20

Safety in the Driver’s Seat

Drivers ed is a slightly boring yet iconic part of growing up to most of us. Attending it is a hugely pivotal moment in most of our lives, as it is one of the first steps for us to become more independent. Drivers ed teaches not only the car’s basic maneuvers but also the dangers of distracted driving and risky behaviors. Since it teaches new drivers to be aware of the risks associated with their actions and the spendy tickets they can get from breaking the law, it is essential to reduce the number of deaths while driving. Some steps to take to ensure a safe driving experience for everyone would be to obey traffic laws, have a designated driver when drinking, avoid distracted driving, and keep your eyes forward. In the state I live in, Minnesota, a hands-free law has been implemented where drivers can no longer have a cell phone or wireless device while driving. It has been pretty effective because anytime I am in the car with my friends and they drive, they have me respond to a text for them or change the song playing instead of doing it themselves.

As much as I wish everyone would drive safely, there are quite a few drivers you see daily that are not making smart driving choices. My mom is the epitome of a distracted driver. I do not think there is a single time that I have driven with her where her driving was not making me nervous. While driving, she tries to eat, talk on the phone, or change the radio station a million times. Her distracted driving usually ends with her swerving into another lane by accident or the person behind us, passing her as quickly as they can. It has taught me to refrain from trying to do anything other than driving while in the car. With that being said, there are some things I can work on too. I need to work on making complete stops and refrain from speeding through yellow lights. I can fix these habits by leaving on time for where I need to be to avoid being in a rush. The best way to encourage safe driving for all is to lead by example. Always wear your seatbelt (even on short trips!), offer to text or shuffle music for the driver, pullover or refrain from driving when drowsy, and when drinking is involved, always have a designated driver.