Alert is Alive

Alert
is Alive

Vehicle
accidents rank number three on the list of leading causes of death in
the United States in 2019. As said by dmvedu.org,
an
average of 34,000 people die each year because of driving. Sadly, my
uncle was one of the many victims of car accidents. Being that I was
in college at the time I never got the chance to visit him or say
goodbye one last time. As I was going back to college, the day after
my uncle’s funeral, I could have been another victim of a vehicle
accident, but luckily my guardian angel was watching over me that
night.

While
going through Drivers Ed I was shown images of vehicles after
accidents and I also attended a father’s presentation for his
daughter who died in a car accident. Those images, how suddenly my
uncle was taken, and my own experience have made me an even better,
safer driver.

Young
drivers are excited to finally be able to drive, and I don’t blame
them, but what they don’t notice is how many people die each year
even though they have been driving for years. Young drivers like to
have fun in their vehicles, whether it’s racing with or against
friends or spinning in circles.

I
believe that Drivers Ed teachers should teach even more about the
risks of driving. Some of my personal rules that I think all drivers
should follow include being cautious of their surroundings, drive
defensive, drive while fully awake, keep conversations light, and the
music down.

First
of all, being cautious of your surroundings includes watching for
obstacles, animals, turns they will make, and other vehicles on the
road. Secondly, when you drive you should always think on the
defensive side, as in thinking that the driver ahead of you might
mess up while driving, such actions that can be observed by the
driver ahead of you include abnormal swaying and sudden stops. I have
avoided accidents because of watching what others do on the road
ahead of me. Next, nobody should ever drive while drowsy, no matter
how close their destination might be. While driving drowsy you may
close your eyes, for what seems like just a second, and then, BAM!,
you get into an accident. Finally, having conversations, and/or
listening to music while driving can be nice but there is that point
where conversation and music can be to loud and distract the driver.

In
conclusion, drivers of all ages can reduce the number of fatalities
by simply driving safely, creating a controlled cab environment, and
anticipating other driver’s moves. Always remember to drive safely
and don’t forget to buckle up.

• Rebecca
  Dickey