Safety First

Like every 16 year old, I was so excited to finally get my learner’s permit! I studied the driver’s manual and I passed the test. I had no idea how scary and intimidating it could be to actually drive. There are so many rules and laws that need to be learned. Not to mention that there are so many distracted drivers on the road. Not only do we have to be aware of ourselves, but we have to look out for other drivers and hope and pray that they know how to be a safe driver.

I took driving lessons because my parents thought it would be a better idea to learn from a professional instructor. They have the knowledge and patience to teach new drivers the skills needed to become a safe driver. Using your seat belt is not only the law, but it’s the first thing you must do when you drive. Seatbelts save lives! Learning what driver has the right of way, knowing how to identify road signs, using your turn signal properly, adjusting and using your rear view mirrors, obeying the speed limit, and navigating turns are just a handful of things I learned while taking driving lessons. The more knowledge and information drivers have, the safer our roadways can become.

According to the National Safety Council, in 2019, 38,800 people lost their lives to car crashes. And about 4.4 million people were seriously injured. These numbers are unacceptable. While accidents can sometimes happen, many of these disasters can be avoided. Distracted drivers attribute to many of these accidents. Texting, talking on the phone, eating, reading, and fumbling with the radio are all activities that should be avoided while driving. New technology can now deactivate cell phones while the car is in motion.

In 2018, my family was involved in a hit and run accident. There was a police chase and the driver of the car was high on heroin. The police officer tried to pull her over and she sped away. We were driving North on 17 and she was driving South with the police chasing after her. She quickly pulled a U-turn and slammed into our van. Our van went off the road. Thank God nobody was hurt. It could have been so much worse. Our van landed between a telephone poll and a tree. After that accident, I was so scared to drive in the left lane. I always asked my parents to drive on the far right lane. It was one of the scariest events I have experienced.

I always drive so slow. I feel that slower speeds are safer because you have time to react if something happens in the road ahead of you. I think it should be required for all new drivers to take lessons or driver’s education before taking the wheel alone. There are so many things that you can learn and the more knowledge you have about road safety, the better it isfor the community.