Name: Joseph Avellino
From: Chestnut Hill, MA
Votes: 0
Joseph Avellino
6/14/2019
Making
The Roads Safer
Driver’s
Ed serves the purpose of educating new drivers and teaching them how
to drive safely. A car is not a toy. While it is liberating to get
your license, that freedom comes with responsibility. A car is a
3,000 pound vehicle that can become a lethal weapon when driven
carelessly. If drivers are more educated about the rules of the road
and the dangers of distracted driving, it can go a long way in
preventing the deaths of thousands of innocent people.
The
first step in reducing driving-related deaths is reliant upon
parental figures. Parents need to practice good driving habits to
show their children how they should properly drive. If our children
grow up watching their parents talk on the phone, text, and
multi-task while driving, they are more likely to imitate that
behavior later in life. If we practice safe driving habits, our
children will be more likely to imitate safe driving habits. Once
parents set the precedent, these concepts must be further enforced in
Drivers Ed class. With parents showing their kids how to drive
safely, Drivers Ed will tell prospective drivers why they should
drive safely.
I
had a very humbling car accident last March. I was running late for
my community service project, and did not fully stop at a stop sign.
At the same time, I was going through my phone, trying to change the
music. My focus was not on the road, and I paid the price. I was
T-Boned by an oncoming car, and my car was destroyed. Myself and the
other driver were extremely lucky to be unharmed. From this incident
onwards, I have become a safer driver. I always make sure to take my
time while driving, and I never use my phone while driving. I set my
music before I begin my drive, and put my phone in a place where I
cannot reach it. It I really need to talk to someone, I will pull
over to talk.
The
best way to further the idea of safe driving is to practice safe
driving yourself. If each person betters their driving habits, the
roads will become a much safer place. Intense videos showing worst
case scenarios from distracted/drunk driving can also drive home the
idea of safer driving. We must work as a nation to significantly
reduce the amount of driving related death. Driving to the store
shouldn’t be more dangerous than going to war.
