Name: Kinzie Wilson
From: Mansfield, TX
Votes: 0
Driving safely not only protects you, but other lives on the road
also. There are many ways to stay safe on the streets such as
drivers ed, staying aware, and making sure other drivers
you ride with are driving responsibly. These simple steps can make a
life changing experience.
First
of all, drivers ed is a simple step that all teens should
take. The class teaches kids the rules of the road and how to drive.
Knowing simple things such as how to read road signs are very
important to keeping the streets safe. Drivers ed also
provides cars and instructors for drive times, something every teen
much complete before getting a license.
Another
way to reduce the number of deaths on the street is to minimize
distractions. There are multiple things in a car that could temp a
teen to take their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel. The
biggest and most dangerous distraction: the phone. Although there are
apps that disable phones while driving, simply putting the phone on
airplane mode and putting it in the console can make a big
difference. Other smaller, yet still important, distractions include
things like the radio, food or drink, or the air controls. Passengers
are great for dealing with the radio and air controls. As for the
food and drink, just waiting until you are at your destination can
help save a life. Knowing how to resist the distractions keeps you
and others safe on the roads, as well as gives you motive to help
your friends and family while riding with them.
Riding
with other drivers can be dangerous if they don’t know how to stay
focused on the road. Always speak up when you see distracted driving,
it is okay to tell the driver you are uncomfortable. I have
personally seen my friends and family driving distracted. It is okay
to tell them you are uncomfortable and help them stay focused. Send
that text they are so anxious to send for them, change the radio
station, remind them of the speed limit, and help them see things
they may not be able to see such as other cars or pedestrians
crossing the road. It is not uncommon for distracted drivers to miss
things such as those. With your help you increase your chance of
making it home in one piece.
Driving
is a big responsibility. It only takes one miscalculation or
distraction to cause a lot of harm. Don’t be the reason you or
someone’s child never comes back home.
