Safe Today – Smiling Tomorrow

Safe Today – Smiling Tomorrow

Driver’s education gives us teens a strong, knowledgeable base of traffic laws and safe driving practices. We can build on this to become great drivers for the rest of our lives and protect ourselves and others in the meantime. Learning how to be a safe driver in class and in practice allows us to learn lessons before we learn them the hard way, in moments that could cost us our lives or the lives of others. The number one killer of teens is in fact, car wrecks, which can be reduced by simply educating and preparing teenagers for the dangerous situations they may encounter. As a student who took Driver’s Education, I learned just how important it is to use your turn signal, watch your speed, and to stay updated about your state’s traffic laws. Before I drive, I remember these lessons and more, so I can implement them, and I have seen a drastic improvement in my driving skills.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, each and every one of us must play our role to apply the principles of safety. Not wearing a seatbelt makes you almost 47 times more likely to die in wreck than if you were wearing one. Your life can be protected by simply buckling yourself in and obeying the law. Eliminating distractions is also critical, such as not being on your phone, blaring loud music, or driving a car full of people. Your driving conditions and mental state should warrant attentive, analytical driving. My mom puts it best, always emphasizing to act like a “drone”, by only thinking about driving and maintaining a good speed, while analyzing the other cars and risks around and ahead of you.

Although I’ve never been in a car wreck, I have seen many risky behaviors in friends and family that could have easily resulted in one. Some of these behaviors include texting and driving, following other cars too closely and aggressively, and speeding. These acts put everyone at risk and should never be practiced by safe drivers who care about others around them.

To play my part in making the roads safer, I pledge to cut distractions, limit myself to 1-2 passengers, and remember to build on what I’ve learned from my family and driver’s education. I will stay calm and drive as a “drone”, only driving when I am not sleepy, anxious, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. I will act as a safe driver by remembering tactics like three-second rule when behind a car and always double-checking for incoming traffic before making a turn or going through a stoplight.

Because I want my community and loved ones to stay safe, I will need to step up and have sincere conversations with friends and family about how they are putting themselves and others at risk by texting and driving. None of us are perfect drivers, but we must compensate by being thoughtful, focused drivers who prioritize safety.