Think Straight Before You Drive Straight

“Think Straight Before You Drive Straight”

By Kelly Nguyen

Drivers ed is vital in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. By educating the youth, specifically new teenage drivers, following the safety protocols of the road can not only help save your life but also the lives of everyone around you. It is often difficult to pinpoint what is the cause to deaths by driving because the causes can range from driving while intoxicated, falling asleep at the wheel, breaking the rules of the road, and much more. I guess you can say all of those causes fall into the category of recklessness. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, the steps that can be taken are to always drive in the right mindset. Since many car-related deaths are a result of the driver’s attitude and not necessarily their knowledge of the road, it is essential to practice a responsible attitude on the road. This means not driving while angry, not driving while emotional, not driving while intoxicated; if you can think straight, you can drive straight.

Personally, I have never experienced being in a car accident but there has been an instance that hit close to home recently. Someone I had known from high school who was only 2 years older than me got into a horrific car accident, causing the death of his close friend. Although he was practicing safe driving with his girlfriend who was practicing for her own driver’s test, he did not practice these safety protocols himself. The reason this stuck with me is because I have befriended both the driver and his girlfriend he was teaching safety rules with, and to see that he recently got into this horrendous accident is heavily dismal. By not stopping at the stop sign for at least 3 seconds nor driving at residential speed limit, he risked his own life as well the lives of those around him that day.

Steps that I take to become a better and safer driver is to always look at my mirrors multiple times before I make a turn ensuring that no one is in harm’s way and to cause no harm for myself as well. Another step I take to ensure safe driving is to always make sure my driver’s seat is adjusted before starting the engine and to wear my seatbelt as I begin to ignite the engine. Stopping at the white line for 3 seconds before the intersection is another step I take to ensure safe driving. By practicing these safety rules, I am eliminating primary causes of car accidents and car-related deaths. I will try my best to encourage those around me to never drive unless they are in the right mindset. Driving after a break up, driving after a heated argument, or driving after even one drink is extremely dangerous to not just yourself but the community around you.