The Best Driver in the Family

Isabella
DeLeon

The
Best Driver in the Family

I
call myself the best driver in the family, because out of my mom,
dad, sister, and twin I’m the only one who hasn’t been in an
accident. Then again everyone’s been driving longer than I have. My
mom and dad have both been driving for more than 20 years and have
been in a handful of accidents, but even the safest driver is bound
to get in an accident after driving that many years. My older
sister– who’s been driving for three years longer than me– and my
twin sister– who’s been driving for one month longer than me–
have both gotten into two accidents each. I have been driving for six
months and have a squeaky clean record. To keep my coveted spot as
best driver in the family I have to stay safe while driving and
drivers ed and focusing on the road are some of the ways I do.

Driver’s
ed is required, at least in my state, to be able to get your license.
When my mom signed me up for an online drivers ed course I rolled
my eyes at the thought of it. Obviously a 15 year old girl who has
sat in a car for most her life knows the rules of the road, or at
least the important ones. But you don’t just need to know the
important ones, you need to know all of them. In an emergency things
like hand signals and mirrors being properly adjusted are
significant, but I never would have thought of any of those things
without drivers ed. It brings safety to not just drivers but also
pedestrians and people riding their bikes. It teaches about the right
of way and flashing stop lights so a driver can better understand
everything around them. It reminds a driver to always be scanning the
road for anything that can cause trouble, which can help prevent
accidents.

To
keep myself out of accidents I also focus on the road. Focusing on
the road to me not only means constantly scanning and paying
attention to the road, but also not being distracted on my phone or
fiddling with the radio. When I say I’m the best driver in my
family some may think that I think I’m untouchable, but it’s
quite the opposite. I’m aware more than anyone that I’m a new
driver and being one means that I have more risk of getting into
accidents. I’m more careful; I know that I might not see
everything, because I’m just learning how to. I make sure to limit
my distractions to the best of my ability by putting my phone on do
not disturb, turning the radio low, and knowing how to get to a place
before I step into the car– even the navigation can be a distraction
if one lets it. Focusing on the road is important to drive safely.

I
used drivers ed and focusing on the road to keep safe while
driving. Drivers ed taught me that I have to know all the rules of
the road to keep myself and everyone else around me safe. Limiting my
distractions helps me focus better on driving and the road in front
of me. Right now I call myself the best driver in the family and I
intend to hold that title for years to come.