Think Twice, Save a Life

Micaela
Ceraso

29
April 2020

Think
Twice, Save a Life

In
life, there are a lot of milestones that one goes through before
becoming a young adult. One of those is obtaining a driver’s
license. This is major in that it requires maturity, knowledge and
extra education tools in school about drivers safety and what an
inexperienced, new driver must prepare for.

The
importance of drivers ed in reducing the number of deaths
behind the wheel is highlighted all throughout the course.
Unfortunately, as time goes on, technology advances daily which is a
cause of concern for those on the road. As much as one follow the
rules and regulations, others may not. The most important part is to
always be a defensive driver with the assumption that not everyones
intentions are the same. There are many precautions to take to
prevent deaths related to driving. The first one is to stop driving
distracted! Put the cell phone down, take off the Apple Watch, and
stop fiddling with the radio. Technology being as advanced as it is
allows for everyone to develop an impatient driving habit when going
from one destination to the next. Although there are downsides to
the advancement of newer technology, there are also positive options.
Luckily, bluetooth audio is now available to drive hands-free, as
well as automatically activating “Do
Not Disturb” when the phone is connected to the car. Automated
text messages can be activated if the driver chooses, such as
“Automated: I am driving, I will get back to you soon,” or custom
message, that goes out if a notification comes through. Another step
to be taken is to drive sober or get pulled over! Driving under the
influence is illegal and can be 100% prevented if people make the
decision to call an Uber or have a designated driver.

I
had one unfortunate but lucky experience when I was 18 years old —
I was involved in a T-bone car accident in fault of the other driver.
I was going through a green light and the person tried to make a
turn and beat me before I crossed the intersection. Luckily, the
rearer end of my car took the most damage and I walked away with only
bruises from my seatbelt. If I did not have my belt on, I was told
my injuries could have been way worse. I am lucky to be alive, and
though I was not at fault, I still take extra precaution with speed
limits, especially when approaching an active intersection. I have
learned a lot from my accident as well as hearing about unfortunate
events from my friends and family members. I believe if everyone was
as precautious as I am, accident rates would be lower.

Society
is always finding methods for us to become better drivers and make
sure everyone’s
driving experience is safe as possible. Not driving distracted or
under the influence, always being aware of surroundings, and taking
extra precautions as a defensive driver will help ensure the highest
form of safety for all.