
Name: Ethan Gatto
From: Roslyn, NY
Votes: 0
Cars Are Not Toys
The
importance of drivers ed in reducing the number of deaths
as a result of driving is that drivers ed allows you to
practice driving in a safe and controlled environment and to learn
from a professional. For most of us the only reason we want to take
drivers ed class is because it allows us to get our license
sooner. What we don’t realize is that it takes many hours of
practice just to be proficient in anything and the same holds true
for getting into a vehicle especially if you have other passengers
with you. Their lives are in your hands and you need to treat a
vehicle with respect. Drivers’ education is not just about
learning how to do a three-point turn. It is about so much more such
as how to be a good defensive driver. Learning how to avoid
dangerous situations is as important as anything else you will learn
behind a drivers’ wheel. If you can learn how to drive and be a
good defensive driver than you will help to mitigate the potential
for a fatal crash in the event you are ever in a situation where
someone else is not driving safely.
There
are so many steps to reduce the number of fatalities when driving.
As I mentioned before, defensive driving is a key to reducing driving
fatalities but there are many other ways to reduce fatalities.
Maintaining your care in proper working order is important. For
example, low air or worn out tire treads can be a safety hazard and,
in certain situations, can create an unsafe driving condition. It
goes without saying that you should never get behind the wheel while
intoxicated, impaired or on any medication that can make you feel
drowsy. With today’s social media frenzy, one of the best ways to
reduce fatalities is to not pick up your phone to speak, text or
scroll social media platforms. These are some of the things a driver
can do to reduce fatalities but the car industry can also help in
this endeavor. All new cars now come with safety airbags but that
was not always the case. Every car should have anti-lock brakes and
early warning detection systems such as when you are veering into
another lane. These are just a few examples but I am sure the car
industry has many more opportunities to make cars safer and thus
reduce fatalities. One opportunity that I would like to mention but
will take many years to realize is autonomous cars. Cars that can
drive themselves and communicate through wifi to other vehicles will
be more efficient, safer and avoid human error that is typically the
cause of most accidents.
I
have been in a minor car accident while driving with my family. My
dad was getting off a highway and there was a light at the end of the
ramp. There was a car in front of him and he slowed down responsibly
but there was some oil on the pavement and he slid into the car in
front of him. Nobody was hurt but I remember the experience. Even
though we were going slow as we approach the light, the impact was
intense. These were not my immediate thoughts but I imagined what a
major car accident where cars are going more than 30 mph might have
felt like. I was jolted by the impact and my parents’ car was
going very slow. I believe my parents are responsible drivers but I
do take for granted they are because I don’t really know any better
since they are the principle people that drive me around as I am
sixteen and still only have my junior license. I cannot think of a
time where they have done something I think is inappropriate while
driving.
The
steps I will take to be a safer driver is to never text while
driving. The truth is that taking drivers’ ed class was very
informative and although I will not lock my phone in the trunk while
driving, I will definitely not pick it up to answer a call or read a
text. What I also learned in drivers’ ed class is simple things
like making sure I am at a safe distance from the car in front of me
and to double check when changing lanes. I think the most important
thing is to be defensive when driving and if someone is driving too
fast or erratic then I should avoid driving near that vehicle.