Driver safety from someone that has been in an accident

Driver safety from someone that has been in an accident.

I have taken a four-week course about driver education. It is an extremely helpful class for those who are new on the road and are still scared to get on the road. This course does a really excellent job on educating its students the laws on the road and anything we need to know before we get on the road. Making sure you know the laws to prevent you from getting in any accidents and what to do if you get in one. We are taught not to speed and how to be aware of everything in the roads. Driving under the influence is not allowed. We learn the punishments people under the influence received in the past and how their licenses can be revoked. It is important because more people learn the laws and it scares them from driving illegally or irresponsibly thus reducing the number of accidents. Less accidents means reducing the number of deaths that happen. 

Steps that can be taken to lower the number of deaths caused by driving is by ensuring all the drivers on road have taken at least one drivers ed class. I attended a 4-week course to learn how to drive. I learned all the rules, safety steps to take, which side to turn when an emergency vehicle is passing by, how often to get your car checked and many more essential skills every driver needs. I believe we can make the roads a safer place by ensuring every driver on the road has taken a drivers ed class. There are options readily available such as a 4-hour one day course. When drivers turn twenty-five, they are allowed to get their license without taking the test or attending any classes. If we can add at least the requirement for them to take at least a class to learn road safety. I live in Houston and driving here is scary due to us being one of the top cities with accidents. A lot of drivers drive irresponsibly because they know they will get away with it and not face any consequences. It is important for those driving irresponsibly to face some type of repercussion. 

I have experienced being in a car accident where I was not at fault. It was a big learning experience for me. It was the first time I ever got into a crash since my family believes in safe driving and being responsible on the road. When my accident happened, I was driving home from getting Mc Donald’s late at night. The lights in the main road near my home do not work the best and the roads were dark with a hint of the neon lights from the restaurants next in the road. I remember this night so clearly. I was listening to a song from my playlist. As I was driving like any other night under the dark road. A cyclist came driving towards my direction and the driver was losing his balance. I was on the far left of the road and the cyclist was not on the bike line and instead driving in the road the opposite way I was heading. He was driving towards me. I did not have enough time to react before I hit him. I remember the cars slowing down behind me and me pulling over in front of a construction store. Other drivers pulled over to make sure the cyclist was out of the road and to give their reports. I called my parents to come and to call the police officers. Both my parents, the ambulance and the police officers arrived. The Medics started interviewing the cyclist while the police officers got my license, registration, and my insurance information. I quickly learned the cyclist was under the influence as he was just coming out of a bar, he admitted it was not the first time he has been hit. I remember watching the police officers interview him and when he said his information “, Juan Blank born in 2002 April 25th.” It stuck with me knowing he was the same age as my sister and driving under the influence. Luckily, this time he only walked away needing a few stitches. But what about the next time? What if the next accident is his last? He already admitted to being hit a few times before because he drives on the roads and refuses to drive in the bike lane.  Even months later I still get paranoid and anxious whenever I see a cyclist on the road because I just remember this night. I take driver responsibility even more seriously now. 

I have taken steps to become a better driver such as always putting my phone in do does not disturb the moment, I get into my car to not get distracted while on the road. I have also taken to using CDS to prevent me from going on my phone to change the song playing. I can instead press the skip button on my wheel. I am very open about my accident in order to educate the people around me to always be aware, especially at night. Accidents can happen to anyone and it is important to be educated on what steps to take to prevent them. More people should take the steps to eliminate any distractions that make you look away from the road. Even the smallest distraction can lead to chaos. If it is your phone that distracts you always leave it out of reach or in your bag. A lot of accidents are caused because of phone distractions.