Name: Megan Rae Conn
From: Thorntown, IN
Votes: 0
In the Drivers Seat
Drivers education plays a huge role in helping to keep our roads safe. There are a lower number of car accidents in adolescents that have been in a driver’s education. Going through this program allows a student to gain a deeper knowledge of road safety. Students in driver’s education also tend to hold their knowledge gained through this program for a longer term than those without drivers ed. Unlike learning to drive on your own, a driver’s education program will also give students the ability to react correctly in possible dangerous situations.
One way everyone can help reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to review road safety often. Situational awareness is an especially important factor in safe driving. Making sure to check all mirrors often, keeping a safe distance between cars, and watching surroundings are all examples of situational awareness. Drugs, alcohol, and driving while in a state of exhaustion will all lower a person’s reaction time. As well as taking away full attention to the road. For an inexperienced driver, lowering the number of passengers that you carry can play a huge role in lowering deaths involving car accidents.
I have been involved in multiple car accidents caused by other people. One I remember the most was a car and semi accident due someone driving while abusing drugs. This car accident involved three cars and two semis and occurred on a bridge. Our car was hit in this accident by a semi trying to stop before hitting another car. Unfortunately, there was a small care pushed over the edge and the driver died due to complications. This event could have been avoided if drug were not involved. My experience in this accident showed me firsthand the importance of safe driving.
As an inexperienced driver there is always room for improvement. The phone is a common distraction in teenagers, I know that looking away from the road even for a moment could cause an accident. Paying full attention to the road and my surroundings are the best way I can avoid a car accident. Not only having situational awareness but driving according to inclement weather will make the road safer for everyone. Advice I would give to other drivers would be to never trust other drivers. You do not know their experience driving or their next move. In order to ensure you are driving safely you need to trust your knowledge of the road.
