Stay Alert and Safe While Driving

Driving is one of the most freeing experiences, one where you don’t have to wait for someone to come pick you up from practice, a ride home from school, a trip out to get food. When I first got my license, the first place I drove to was my softball practice. I left and drove home without a second thought. The ride was peaceful, exciting, and freeing. There was no stress about, “when was my mom going to arrive?”, “what happens if they forgot to come pick me up, I would be stuck here!”. I was on my own and ready to explore.

Education of driving is one of the most important steps of safety. I was taught simple things from which pedal is the gas and which is the break. All the way to how to merge onto a highway, or what to do if you’re hydroplaning. In my driving education courses, we were taught the extremes to try and keep us safe. The part of the lessons taught there that stuck the most out to me was driving under the influence. My cousin had a severe drug addiction at the time. She drove around without a second thought of her safety, just trying to enjoy her life. One night, she ignored all of the basic lessons we were taught in driving school: drive sober, drive safely, and buckle up. After trying to pass someone going well over the speed limit, she lost control. Skidding off the side of the road and slammed into a tree. This collision propelled her out the windshield. From there, she was rushed to the hospital and put on life support. The question of her survival was put into play, we had no idea what would happen, just had to play the waiting game.

At this point in my life, I was too young to drive, but after hearing her experience, I was shaken to reality. I knew that when it was time for me to drive, it was no game. The simplest mistake could lead to my death. On my 16th birthday, when I got my permit. I was more nervous than anything to drive. What if someone under the influence swerved and hit me? I would be powerless. The only thing I could do was remember what my driving instructor said, “Look in front of you and drive defensively, all you can do is follow the rules and stay alert.” These words stuck with me throughout even to this day. I know that there are so many people a year who lose their lives to either their own accident, or someone else’s, but with these words of advice, I can do my part to stay safe and protect others at the same time.

To reduce the risk of accidents, the driving instructors could just keep trying to inform their students. Letting them know how to avoid certain situations either caused by weather or someone else. Learning how to drive when it’s icy, foggy, or rainy out will help students know what to do in tough circumstances. Teaching students what to do in life or death situations is the most effective.

Technology is one of the most distracting sources of entertainment, especially when driving. As technology advances, drivers’ eyes, hands, and minds are taken away from driving. A thing that could help reduce the chance of death while driving is a new app. One where parents can control the settings and wont let kids go on their phones to text someone back. The app could try and help avoid drivers from getting distracted, which hopefully would lead to less deaths. More safety.

To become a better driver, one needs to think that this is no video game. There are no second shots in life to try again if you make a big mistake when behind the wheel. Driving from place to place is a necessity, but also needs to be taken seriously. I am grateful for my school’s education, and my family’s help to guide me through the steps of being a good, safe driver. The driving instructors have their own cars with their own breaks to try and help keep me and others safe while learning to drive. The 6 hours that the state of New Jersey has to do has taught me the most. The lessons and tips given to me by this instructor have helped me learn what not to do in situations with high amounts of pressure. When to break, when to speed up to hopefully keep everyone safe. The most important thing to do while driving is to stay alert, and be ready for anything. I am grateful that I can take myself place to place, and hope that others will continue to use this privilege wisely and safely.