Drive Safer, Not Faster

Sarah Risma

Driver Education Initiative 2020 Scholarship Essay

Drive Safer, Not Faster

New drivers that are getting on the road are usually pretty excited to drive. It is a new skill and they can finally drive without having their parents take them. But sometimes they do not fully understand or recognize the implications that driving can have. As a driver, you have the potential to kill someone, whether it is an accident or not, and you need to know how to avoid that. Therefore, driving education is crucial to reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving because it informs drivers, help them make better decisions, and execute those practices. By taking a driver’s education class, new drivers can learn and put into practice the safety precautions outlined in the class. Students need to learn and be aware that driving is a dangerous activity and the best way to do that is to take the course. I have been in a minor accident with my sister. We were driving down a street and a red car did not make a full stop to check to see if she was clear. If my sister had not moved out of the way, I probably would have been injured. Instead, only our mirror and front right fender was hit. After that, I always check that intersection to see if cars are stopping properly. There are so many accidents and deaths that could be prevented if people remembered and followed the rules of the road. By being informed, drivers can know when it is their turn to go and be smart about how they drive.

When informed, drivers will make better decisions. When I was taking my required instructor lessons, my instructors would always say “when it is safe” and then they would give a command. “When it is safe” is up to you. If you have to wait for it to be safe to turn left, wait. Do not jump the gun because you are in a hurry. If you get in an accident, you are going to be a lot later than you would if you had just waited a few seconds or a minute more. When approaching a yellow light, if you have space you should stop. It is so dangerous to try and make a yellow light rather than just braking. That is an easy way to get into an accident, by running a red or late yellow light. Another smart decision that you can make is to look around and being aware of your surroundings. This adds another level of protection because you are alert and looking for danger and are aware of your options to get out. The best decision that you can make as a driver is to put your phone down.

Phones are a great tool to stay connected and know things instantly, but not when you are on the road. My brother and my dad were both in a big car accident three years ago. They were on the highway in Texas and were slowing down because of traffic. The semi-truck driver behind them was checking his phone and slammed into them, sending them off the highway. My brother had to use every ounce of driving instinct that he had to keep them from rolling and getting injured. Thankfully they were both okay, but his car was totaled. If that driver had not been on his phone, they could have avoided that whole situation. The best thing for drivers, new and old, is to put the phone down. Do not answer that text. Do not answer that call. It can wait. And it should. The more you look down and focus on your phone, the less concentration you have for the vehicle you are driving. The more distracted you are, the easier it is to accidentally hit someone, whether a pedestrian or someone else on the street. You do not want to have someone else’s death on your hands because you were distracted by your phone. So as you are driving to school, put down the phone, be alert, and remind yourself of some of the consequences that come with driving.