Driving America

Logan Gerald

National Driving and Traffic School

November 30, 2020

Driving America

Throughout the history of America, ever since the creation of the horse and wagon, people have experienced accidents. If you ask any of your relatives if they have ever been in a car accident you can almost guarantee that they would all say yes in different variations. To go behind the wheel is to risk your safety as well as the safety of those around you. Being prepared to drive is the first step, but understanding your actions is next.

The importance of knowing your actions and how to prevent accidents can be the difference between life and death. Many states offer excellent educational driving classes for the students if they choose to take them. The students who take these classes benefit from better driving performance than those who do not, and they even can learn more about how to safely avoid weather conditions, hazardous road environments, and understanding the signals of the road. Even though that can all be learned, safety does not start with anyone else, but it starts with yourself.

The first step to ensure safety for you and fellow drivers around you is to always be aware of your surroundings. You would not want to be climbing a mountain and not know the route. Remembering your environment can potentially save your life, as you understand the road better, you also understand how to maneuver it even more so. The next step is to always plan forward, whether it is for a short trip or a long trip, make sure your car is in good condition and that nothing is required other than the person sitting behind the wheel.

I have been caught injured behind the wheel on two occasions that have left my car totaled both times. The first time was because of hazardous conditions on the road and it caused my car to uncontrollably slide into an object and completely crush my front end. I did not know at the time the ways to prevent this because I was still taking my drivers course. If I would have taken it before I wrecked I would have known how to prepare for slippery conditions. In the second accident, I was in a deer jumped in front of my car out of nowhere on the side of my road. It busted the radiator and completely totaled the next car I got. I learned from that to always watch the sides of the road just as much as in front of me.

I could have prevented those accidents with more knowledge on how to avoid them, and what I could look for to see signs of a dangerous situation. To start being safe on the roads take your state driver course to understand fully how to operate a vehicle properly. Make sure that when you drive you are S.A.F.E. See if your car is damaged, Air your tires, Fuel up, lastly Enter your vehicle. Using that simplified process will save you a lot of trouble and anxiety that comes with beginning to drive. Drive safe so that those around you can be safer too.