Drivers ed Initiative 2020: In the Driver’s Seat

Kaylee Warfield

01 August 2020

Drivers ed Initiative 2020: In the Driver’s Seat

Driving has become an essential part of life and every teen looks forward to getting their license, as soon as they turn that magic number, which in Ohio is 16. Afterall teenagers, like myself, look at driving and see all the fun, power, and freedom it has to offer without realizing that with that power comes great responsibility. Practicing proper safety is one of the most essential factors that one should consider while driving a vehicle. Taking Drivers ed helps drivers, new to the roadways, learn road signs, traffic signals, basic vehicle safety, and proper strategies for emergency situations. During these courses, drivers are educated on just how serious it is to not be a part of the rising teenage accident statistic. Now-a-days, it’s becoming more and more common for road accidents to be the headline in a daily newspaper. This makes those Drivers ed courses just that much more important to ensure that bad driving habits never begin and the numbers of accidents start decreasing.

There are many steps that I believe should be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving and help drivers be safer on the roads. For instance, an estimated 391,000 drivers were injured in distracted driving crashes in 2017. The most common distraction for most drivers is their cell phone and more specifically texting while driving. I think, it is safe to say that we have all seen someone using their phone while driving, whether that be a parent, grandparent, or friend. Specifically, I remember a time my friend got into an accident due to texting while driving and even though she was fine and no one was seriously injured, it shows you just how serious and important it is to keep your eyes on the road at all times. It is a very dangerous act, because it diverts your attention away from the road. Although, many people claim that texting only takes your eyes off the road for a few seconds. What they don’t realize is that in that few seconds, something unexpected can happen. Additionally, if you’re traveling at very high speeds, you can travel significant distances in seconds, decreasing your reaction time drastically. This lessens the chances of being able to slow down or correct before an accident occurs. One of the best ways to stop yourself and others from texting and driving is to create a habit of putting your phone away before getting on the road. For many people who rely on their phones for so much, this can be a very hard task, but the key is to incorporate putting the phone away as part of your car routine. Not to mention it is important to practice buckling up, proper hand positioning on the wheel, keeping a safe following distance, and many other safe driving techniques taught in Drivers ed. Remember, driving is a privilege and must be taken seriously.