Name: Paige Sweem
From: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Votes: 0
Many
teenagers get excited when it comes time to apply for a driver
education class. Others, however, blow it off. Drivers ed is in
place to not only tell young adults how to drive but teach them to
drive carefully. One cannot be a good driver unless they develop
experience. Drivers ed is there to help those unaware of the
laws and the basic rules of driving. Such as whose turn at a stop
sign, can you turn right or left on a red light, when is it a good
time to put on your blinker? All of these questions fall in place on
how to become a good driver. Being a good driver is one thing, and
being an excellent driver is another.
A couple of factors cause many
automotive-related deaths; distractions, weather, the influence of
drugs or alcohol, and much more. When getting into a car, the driver
should put his or her phone down in order to prevent an accident. As
much as a phone is a distraction, so is the music. If one must listen
to music, it should be set before driving the car. Everyone loves
that specific song, but it can wait.
Along
with music, food can also be an issue. Driving and trying to eat a
taco is very hard and messy. Do not try to drive with your knees or
elbows in order to eat, pull over and eat the food or go in and sit
down. If you are on your way to having a drink with a friend, make
sure to have a designated driver on the line. You may think you are
having one, but having one can still impair the vision and your
thinking capability.
Growing up, I have always had to drive
and pick up my parents from friends or the bar because they were
drinking, but I am glad that I was the one to pick them up rather
than them being endangered and endangering the life of someone else.
A couple of times, my parents would try to drive home, and it ended
up that they would drive into a snowbank or even hit another car.
Driving intoxicated is very irresponsible and dangerous. To prevent
and stop reckless driving, everyone should put their phones down,
stop eating, and be aware if they are endangering themselves or
someone else before they start the car. When riding in another
person’s car, put your phone down as well, and be an extra set of
eyes. Let them know you feel unsafe or uncomfortable if they use
their cell phone, change the music, or eat to the point their hands
are not on the wheel because it is not just their life, it is yours
as well.
