No Need To Speed

Nia Brown

6-23-21

2021 Drivers Ed Essay Contest

According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 38,800 people lost their lives in 2019 due to car crashes in the U.S. It is imperative that the importance of driver education is enforced in and outside of school systems to reduce the fatality rate as a result of driving. By educating both young and old adults on the importance of keeping themselves and other drivers safe, this will hopefully lower the amount of car accidents that occur every year in the U.S. Personally, I have been in a car accident before, at the age of four. Fortunately, the car accident I was in was minor, and only affected the bumper of my parents’ car. The cause of the accident was due to the driver behind us using their phone and not paying attention to their surroundings. After our car stopped at a red light, they slowed down but kept moving forward, causing the front of their car to bump into the back of ours. Thankfully, everyone was okay, but the incident could have been worse if the driver was travelling at a faster speed.

To avoid similar mistakes, there are plenty of steps that I can take to be a safer and more responsible driver on the road. For one, I can always make sure to check and adjust my mirrors every time I drive, especially when changing lanes or turning on roads. By doing so, this makes me more aware of other drivers and last-minute decisions that they make that could affect my safety and other people’s as well. Another step I can take is to follow the required speed limits on roads and keep a safe distance from the car in front of me. By not driving too fast (or too slow), I can lessen the risk of hitting the car in front of me if they have to suddenly stop for an unexpected reason. Finally, to be a better driver I can remind myself to not use my phone, whether that includes calling or texting while driving. No matter what, I often remind myself right before I begin to drive to keep my hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. Unfortunately, a likely cause of people getting into car accidents is from checking their phone for missed texts and/or calls. I always tell myself it’s better to lose a minute of your life than your life in a minute. This is highly dangerous, and it is preferable to be “hands-free” while operating a vehicle.

To avoid similar mistakes, there are plenty of additional steps that I can take to be a safer and more responsible driver on the road. For one, I can always make sure to check and adjust my mirrors every time I drive, especially when changing lanes or turning on roads. By doing so, this makes me more aware of other drivers and last-minute decisions that they make that could affect my safety and other people’s as well. Another step I can take is to follow the required speed limits on roads and keep a safe distance from the car in front of me. By not driving too fast (or too slow), I can lessen the risk of hitting the car in front of me if they have to suddenly stop for an unexpected reason. Finally, to be a better driver I can remind myself to not use my phone, whether that includes calling or texting, while driving. This is highly dangerous, and it is preferable to be “hands-free” while operating a vehicle.

To help others to be safer on the road, I can share my personal experience of being in a car accident to hopefully remind them as to why it is so important to follow driving rules and guidelines. When driving, one must always make sure all passengers are wearing seatbelts, and should always slow down for hazards before coming to them, so they are in control of the vehicle. Lastly, I always tell my friends and family that it’s better to lose a minute of your life, than your life in a minute. Not answering a text sent to you right away can help keep yourself safe and those driving around you, because checking that text message can distract you and lead to disastrous and even fatal crashes.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my essay!