Safety First, Lock the Doors

What’s the first thing you do when you get into the car? Lock the doors. This was told by the professor to a girl who was taking evening classes at college. During a fall semester where it would get dark by 5PM, I decided to take organic chemistry that would end at 10PM. One night, I decided to stay after class and talk to my professor about the exam grade. After I was done talking to him, I started leaving the class. As I was moving towards the door to leave the class, the professor called me and asked me to wait for him so we both could go to the parking lot together. Why did he say that? Before I made any scenario in my head, he said don’t go to the parking lot by yourself. He said, “I recommend all the students should leave the class and go to the parking lot together or wait for someone to leave the building with you”. He made me feel very comfortable when he said that. We both walked out of the building and went to our cars. While we were walking, he asked me what’s the first thing you do when you get in the car? I replied, wear your seatbelt. He said, “wrong answer”, and the only right answer is to lock the doors before you wear the seat belt. I smiled at him for treating me like his own kid by showing a respectful concern. I got into my car and the first thing I did was lock the doors and left for my house. I told this whole story to my friend on the text before I went to sleep.

Tomorrow evening, I had a class where I got to see my friend. After saying hi to each other, she started thanking me. I asked, what for? She said, “you saved my life by what you told me last night”. I was thinking about what I told her until she started telling me a story where a man almost approached her car, and tried opening the doors as she entered the car. She said, for the first time in my life I locked the doors as I got into the car because your story was on my mind. She said the man was trying to open the door as she was trying to leave the parking lot of a Walmart in the morning. How could public places in the morning be this scary? I felt so amazed and relieved thinking how driver education is so important, and how it could save us from so many dangers. We both are from foreign and from countries where girls are not allowed to drive due to the unsafe environments. Because they believe in “keep your daughters safe”, and not “educate your sons”.

It is important to know that driver education is not all about driving, putting gas, or changing oil, it goes beyond that. Driver education is all about safety. To reduce the number of deaths, it is important to note that practicing driving cautiously is a must. The driver should be aware of the traffic laws, emergency procedures, and risks such as speeding, skipping stop signs, using phones, eating or drinking while driving. Being drunk, using a phone, or speeding has drastically increased the number of accidents and deaths around the world. The number of deaths related to driving can be reduced by strictly following the traffic rules and practicing safe driving. Also, awareness of the surroundings and avoiding using phones is important. A lot of drivers who have eyesight issues, sometimes drive without their prescriptions and that also results in car crashes. Additionally, drunk people should not drive at all costs to save lives.

Besides drivers, people in the public should also be aware of driving rules to avoid all risks of getting hurt by cars. I have been in a car accident recently and it was my very first time to experience a car accident. It was a scary and terrible feeling. Nobody was hurt thankfully but the other driver was over speeding and lost control of the car and hit us. My family member’s drive really carefully, however, my brothers sometimes overspeed when they see the traffic light turn yellow, which a lot of people do. I personally don’t think it’s safe and better to be avoided.

All in all, Double checking is a very important step to take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road. It is very important to check your surroundings and yield to pedestrians and or animals. Never over-speed in all zones including schools, parks, and streets. Avoid distractions such as drinking, eating, doing makeup, and using your phone while driving.