Learn To Drive, Save Some Lives

The first car was made in 1672, about 350 years ago, by Ferdinand Verbiest. It was steam-powered and was not very practical when compared to today’s vehicles. When looking at the safety features of the first car, they were awful at protecting people inside the car and more focused on the car itself while modern cars are built to specifically protect the people. But cars can only do so much. Why not try to cut down the number of car accidents instead of focusing on the aftermath? Driver’s education is one of the most important classes I took in high school. Even though I took Drivers Education as a freshman in high school, I remembered a lot of the information when I was behind the wheel for the first time. I remembered the rules of the road, how to be a defensive driver rather than an aggressive one, and so much more, to many to list.

Some steps that I believe should be taken sooner rather than later would be to take a weeknd driving course for new drivers. This can help lower their insurance as well as help them learn crucial tips and tricks that could help save their life as well as others. Another step would be to help schools afford driver’s ed cars for new drivers to hone their skills on the road while still being under the safety net of someone with more experience. Now I can’t act like the perfect driver when I have been in two car accidents myself, one of which was my fault. The first time was when I was going home from school on a Friday and a school bus was driving over the double lines into my lane just enough to make me turn the steering wheel a little bit but enough for my front right tire to catch the lip of the road and throw me into someone yard. The second time was when I was going to my dad’s house for lunch. I was following someone too close and they slowed down to let someone turn when I clipped their left brake light. I had to pay $225 because I had to go to general sessions court, which is $200 by itself. Needless to say, I learned my lesson after the second time. One thing I have started doing when I drive is to put my phone somewhere I can’t easily reach from the driver’s seat (i.e. in the passenger’s door, to the passenger, behind my seat). Anything that will minimize distractions while I have control of two tons of steel/aluminum going 60 miles per hour. But I am not the only one that is guilty of doing other things while driving. When riding with friends, family, others, I instinctively check the blind spots as well as make sure I know the surroundings. I will even talk to the driver to try to convince them to put their phone down or stop eating. And when I am the driver, I will put safety first before anything else.