Avoid distraction, don’t be in a hurry and be a proactive driver!

As a new driver, I have made it a priority to be safe and remember the training I received during Driver’s Education. I have found it is effective to be a proactive driver. I try to look both ways once my light changes from a red light to a green light, just in case someone runs a red light when I go to cross an intersection. I learned this in Driver’s Education class and I realize it could not only save my life, but others, as well. During the classes I participated in, I also noted that it is important to ALWAYS wear your seatbelt and leave adequate distance in between your car and the car in front of you. This is especially true when you are trying to get through a green left turn arrow. I have noticed so many people rush through those to try to make it before it turns yellow and that can cause accidents if you are not careful. I am a cheerleader for my local high school and one of our cheerleaders recently drove into the back of a vehicle in front of her. She lost her tooth and also had a neck injury and had she allowed enough distance between vehicles, all of that would have been avoided. She wouldn’t have had to deal with her insurance company paying for damages and could have avoided much hassle and expense if she just made sure to not get too close to other vehicles.

I have experience driving not only on local roads near where I live, but also on Columbus, Ohio highways. I drive on Interstate 71 and 70 frequently (at least one to two times a week) to the Buckeye Pole Vault Academy for training from Lancaster, Ohio. This has allowed me to be very cautious and has given me lots of highway experience. I make it a point to ALWAYS keep my phone out of my reach and only use it for navigation purposes. If someone calls me or texts, I look at it after I have arrived to my destination. During Driver’s Education class this was touched upon many times and it truly helps me stay focused and definitely is a rule to live by. I wish more people took this into consideration because so many people make a mistake by looking at their phones and the repercussions are tragic.

Accidents and deaths, as a result of accidents, can be eliminated if more people took the time to be a proactive driver and slow down. I speak from experience when I say that it is easy to hurry. We all have places to be and it can be so tempting to go faster and only think about getting to where we need to be as quickly as possible. However, we all need to take time and be ok with either being late or leave early enough to where you have time to arrive at your destination. My mom always tells me NOTHING is worth driving recklessly and NOTHING is worth getting into an accident and hurting yourself and others. I try to remember this daily. My father died of a drug overdose when I was only 13 years old and recently, his best friend died while driving a concrete pump boom truck. The truck went over the side of a ravine and we don’t know why, but it makes me think twice every time I get into my vehicle and drive that same highway up to Sunbury for my pole vault lessons. Pole vaulting means so much to me because my dad used to be a pole vaulter and I want to go to college as a pole vaulter with a major in Psychology. I want to help others who have experienced loss like I have. I miss my father and his friend every day. Having experienced the loss of both of them, makes me realize even more how important it is to always be aware of my surroundings and pay attention to the road.

To sum it up, I will always make it a priority to watch other drivers along with eliminating distractions while I am driving. I know my father and his friend are with me every day and I don’t want to let them down. It does help that I have both of them up in heaven as my guardian angels. I hope that this essay brings more awareness in regards not being in a hurry and the importance of eliminating distractions when you drive along with a priority to be proactive and watch others before turning at intersections and crossways. I think it’s up to all of us to help each other and eliminate the tragic loss of life in any way we can.