Determined Driving

Determined Driving

Driver’s education should not just end with a high school course- I would recommend repeated refresher courses for adults throughout their driving years.  In Illinois, it is a requirement to pass a 30-hour driver’s education course in order to graduate from high school.  I know that other states have more lax laws.  However, since I have been driving now for two years, I notice many adults breaking rules on the road despite having had driver education.  Bad habits form easily, and driver education refresher courses should be an incentive to lower insurance and to reinforce the seriousness of accidents and fatalities that occur while driving.  Driver’s education is important because it teaches not only the rules of the roads but reviews skills and attitudes about driving, too. 

Accidents are the leading cause of death among teens and young adults.  There are several strategic steps that can be taken to ensure safer driving. All passengers should be properly buckled before the car is in motion.  Secondly, driving after drinking or drug use should never be an option.  Third, drivers and passengers should be aware of the most common factors contributing to distracted driving.  Those factors include talking to passengers, eating while driving, texting, or using a cellphone while driving, and using a navigation device. In fact, nearly 40% of drivers are distracted about 15 minutes per hour of driving! (travelers.com) Drivers should silence or power off their cell phone so as not be distracted by the phone ringing or alerting the driver to text messages. Utilizing an auto reply feature is also recommended.  Eating and intense conversations with passengers should be put on hold. When using navigation systems drivers need to realize that if they get lost or turned around, they should pull over to review directions safely.  Other contributing factors are rushing to avoid being late or weather.  People should use extreme caution in fog, rain, sleet, snow, and icy weather.  I would recommend allowing plenty of travel time to arrive at your destination.  

I was a driver in a car accident this past summer.  It was my fault. I failed to stop completely at the light and hit another car.  I am grateful every day that the other driver was alone and was not injured.  It was very traumatic as my grandparents came to the scene to help me out.  My car had to be towed, and I was ticketed.  In an instant, I realized how easily I was personally distracted and how fast accidents happen.  My parents still allow me to drive, but I was not allowed any passengers in my car for six months.

I have shared my car accident story with my friends and teammates.  I let them know that I could not carpool younger swim team members due to my accident.  I will continue to inform others of the important skills, maneuvers, rules, and attitudes about driving learned during driver education.  Driver’s education should not end after high school.