Safe Driving

Brigid Atkins

Safe Driving

The number of deaths as a result of driving is extremely high, and teens have the highest rates of crash involvements while elderly drivers cause the most deaths. Drivers education has helped dramatically in lowering the number of deaths caused by teens. The topics covered in drivers ed classes range from the road signs to laws of the road, and without valuable knowledge about these topics, teen drivers might get confused while driving. In addition, teens are more likely to listen to a professional than their parents. Teens will value the tips and tricks that their teacher will offer as it’s not from their parents. In drivers education classes, the teacher discusses the consequences of both reckless driving and breaking the law, so these stay in the back of teens’ heads as they drive. Driver’s ed also allows for students to have behind the wheel lessons and practice with a licensed instructor which helps the new driver learn how to drive safely. One way to lower accidents caused by teen drivers is to make it mandatory for teens to take a drivers education class before they get their permits. While this is required in most states, there are still a handful of states where it is not required.

Sadly, I have been in a car accident. Although I had my permit, my mom was driving me home from dance one night. A driver ran a red light and hit my mom’s car. The car was totaled. My mother and I were not hurt physically, but mentally I was a little shaken up. The idea that a car could do so much damage scared me as I was about to be seventeen, where I would be driving alone. Now when I drive, I make sure to not go straight away when the light is green to avoid accidents from people running red lights. I avoid speeding up at yellow lights and running red lights, and I also remind my friends about the accident to hopefully prevent another accident from happening.

Practicing good driving habits is important as a new driver because then as the driver gets older, the habits will be ingrained into their head causing it to be second nature. Some of these good driving habits include not putting the car out of park until everyone in the car has their seatbelts on and putting the phone away while driving. Making sure everyone has his/her seatbelt on is important while driving to prevent injuries from happening. Putting the phone away while driving prevents the driver from taking his/her eyes off the road. Taking one’s eyes off the road for a second to change a song can be all it takes for a crash to occur. This is why music should be chosen before the car is taken out of park in order to prevent changing music while driving. Another important habit to create is fully stopping at a stop sign before going as it ensures that the driver completely looks both ways before crossing an intersection. An important idea to think of when driving is not trusting anyone else’s driving ability. This means that drivers should always assume the worst in order to prepare for the worst. Drivers should always be scanning the road and the periphery and anticipating another driver making a mistake . Personally, I need to stop leaving my house later than I should to get places because it makes me feel rushed which leads me to drive a little faster than I should. I have been beginning to leave my house fifteen minutes earlier for school, so I feel more relaxed while driving and have been encouraging my friends to do the same. Safe driving is extremely important and good driving habits should be taught in drivers ed classes and practiced by new drivers to help lower the chances of car crashes caused by new drivers.