Dotted Line

Dotted Line

Sign here, here, initial here, initial here, sign here, and just so you know this may cause death. What really comes with the responsibility of driving is more than just a new thrilled excitement when you finally get your permit/license, but you are essentially signing your name on a dotted line. In this contract that many don’t know that their signing is their agreement to put themselves and others first when it comes to safe driving. When this contract is breached it leads to more reckless driving, car accidents, tickets, suspended licenses or even death.

Car accidents have heavily impacted my family, especially my grandmother’s sister. She was hit by a semi-truck, which led her to strike the guard rail and total her car. Due to the truckers reckless driving she had to pay the price and fortunately she is still alive. The overall impact of that accident had affected her whole family dynamic. Not only was she mentally scarred from that situation, but she was left blind and had to have a titanium plate placed in her head, immobilized for months, had to learn brail and is in family care just to name a few of her personal and familial struggles. It has made me realize how accidents can impact a person in totality and how detrimental driving is. My parents always warned me that I would have to worry about someone else’s carelessness being the reason for an accident and not my own driving. Which I see now more than ever, moving from a passenger to being behind the wheel.

In order to improve our roadways to make them safer and reduce accidents there are several ways to implement this. One, use the tools implemented in driving school such as using the turn signal to warn cars you’re getting over, going the speed limit, when coming to a complete stop be sure that your far enough that the car in fronts back tires are visible, and wearing a seatbelt. Second, states should have people retake drivers-ed every ten years to assist in refreshing their driving skills and knowledge, and to potentially learn about changed traffic laws in a person’s state of residence. Just as doctors and other professionals have to retake tests to make sure their still knowledgeable about their field, everyone should have to do so when it comes to operating a vehicle. Operating a thousand or more-pound metal box that causes more deaths should come with a reevaluation for many people. This would not only help people stay UpToDate on their driving skills, but also to assist in weeding out the bad drivers or even the elderly. Not only that but also drivers should have to take a defensive driving course to assist with their driving knowledge and accident prevention. It would not hurt to have a refresher or a potential online safety course to assist in driver safety if anything at all. Overall driving should be seen as a serious act and not be taken lightly. Take the stride to being a safer driver by driving as though you have signed on a dotted line for a contract where your life is at stake.