Life or Death

Drivers ed is a vital step that every person has to complete before getting behind the wheel. Regardless of one’s age, gender, or race, everyone must complete drivers ed. Driving is not just about getting from destination to destination, but working as a team with the other drivers to ensure everyone’s safety. Personally, drivers ed is extremely important to me as well as my family. Although I have never personally been in a car accident, my grandma actually passed away in an accident because another driver ran a red light. Also, one of my good friends passed away last year because he was on his phone while driving. Although it is a tragedy, I am grateful for these situations to have shown me at such a young age the importance of drivers ed. It truly goes to show that every single time someone gets behind a wheel, they are risking not only the lives of the people in the car, but the lives of every other driver on the road. If only one person breaks a rule or stops paying attention for even a split second, many lives could be lost. Driving isn’t just about freedom, but responsibility. If one does not complete drivers ed, they are at a much more likely chance of getting in a potentially fatal accident. Drivers ed not only teaches us the rules of the road, but the danger that comes with it. By doing the obvious yet essential rules like wearing your seatbelt, not texting while driving, and not speeding, driving accidents can be kept to a minimum. When I did drivers ed, I learned so many rules that I never even knew existed. For example, I never knew that the person going uphill has the right of way when on a sloped hill. Personally, I feel as if some people get too confident while driving and feel that they can get away with not complying with the rules. As drivers, we need to always be aware of our surroundings and be completely focused at all times. We, as a society, need to work together to drive safely and make sure others are also driving safely. If we see someone reach for their phone, if we see someone begin to go over the speed limit, or even if we see someone not fully stop at a stop sign, we must enlighten them on the importance of following these rules, for it could be a matter between life or death. Driving is dangerous. The quicker we understand that, the quicker we will be able to maximize safety on the roads.