Behind the Wheel: Keep it Focused

Anya Robison

Driving is a simple concept. It effectively and efficiently gets you from one place to another, and most people use their car more than 3 times a day. If driving is so effective and efficient, however, then why are there over 1 million deaths every year from motor vehicles? Surprisingly, there is not one specific thing that leads people to get in a car wreck. There are many different events, factors, and timing that goes into what causes a car accident, and the term they use to describe that is called “distracted driving.” Distracted driving occurs when the driver’s attention is diverted, so that they are not fully focusing on the road ahead of them. This includes texting, calling, eating, talking, or even falling asleep at the wheel. There’s a plethora of things that a driver can do to be considered “distracted” while driving, but because of this, thousands of people die every day.

So why is driver education important? Driver education is essential to being a safe driver on the roads, primarily because it makes sure drivers are responsible and safe while they are on the road. Driver education helps students to develop safe vehicle operation, understand traffic directions and laws, cooperate with and pay attention to other drivers around them, and help prepare students in the event of an accident. Those who do not go through drivers education before getting on the road are less prepared and equipped to drive, and are putting themselves and those around them at risk.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, there are many things that can be done. Cities should make sure that roads are well marked and maintained, and that dangerous intersections have some sort of traffic regulating system in place. Ultimately, however, it comes down to driver education and awareness. Until drivers decide that safety on the road is important, there will still be distracted and reckless driving.

Recently I was in a major car accident. Someone ran a red light while my family’s vehicle was turning left, and we hit the side of their car. They were going 70mph, and the entire front of our vehicle was shaved off. I was sent to the hospital in an ambulance from the scene, because I had knocked out my window with my head and shoulder. If I hadn’t been wearing my seatbelt, I would have been ejected from the car and killed. As it was, I had multiple scrapes and bruises, a severe concussion, and to this day I struggle with memory loss and forgetfulness because of damage to my brain. I had to go to the chiropractor for 4 months because my spine was rotated completely sideways and out of line. And even with all these complications, my family and I were lucky to have survived. The car accident could have been much worse if anything had been different, but the whole situation could have been avoided if the driver had not been distracted while driving.

Personally, while I am driving, there are certain measures I can take to make sure that I am keeping my attention on the road and being a safe driver. While I am driving, I will check my blind spot before changing lanes, and make sure that I am always using my blinker to alert other drivers of where I am going. I will make sure that I am off my phone and am not distracted by incoming texts or other messages, as well as making sure that I am not fiddling with the radio or eating. Talking while driving can also be distracting, so I can make sure that my top priority is the road in front of me and not conversation. By being a defensive driver, I can reduce the risk of causing an accident, while also decreasing the risk of being hit by someone else who is distracted.