Drive Safe and Save… Lives

“Drive Safe and Save … Lives”

By Hollieann Geike

Drivers Education is very important not only to pass the drivers test but to keep the roads safe for all drivers. Driver’s education helps prepare you for the test by taking you on pre-test drives and ensuring that you know all the rules of the road. Along with this it makes you a better driver and allows you to learn from your mistakes. Drivers education makes drivers more cautious of others while on the road, making it safer for everyone.

With proper education on driving and the rules of the road we can reduce the amount of casualties that involve motorized vehicles. To make roads safer we need to get as many people as possible into drivers education classes. Some may opt out of drivers education because the cost and that should not be an issue. The reason classes are so expensive is because they provide the test, instruction, and many schools use very nice cars with backup cameras but when learning how to drive the car has no need to be fancy. By using older cars schools can save themselves money while making classes cheaper for their students. Making driver’s education seem worth the money to people learning how to drive and at an older age. The more people we get in drivers education the less casualties due to driving will occur.

Personally I have never been in a car accident. But I have been affected by them. My Junior year of high school my brother and his friend were going to go skiing, the roads were snowy and icy they were headed up the pass when the car spun out of control and it flipped over the edge of the cliff, I had no idea any of this was going on I walk into my Anatomy and Physiology class and my teacher who is friends with my mom tells me, “It’s been a crazy morning at your house.” I replied, “not really.” she said, “ Do you not know? You might want to call your mom.” me being confused she told me “Your brother was in an accident, your mom posted it on facebook.” I was shocked and went into the hall to call my mom. I started to cry I wiped my tears and went back to class. I could not focus on the rest of the class, I started to cry and my teacher told me to go into the hall. I just sat down and cried. My brother called me and was telling me they were driving too fast and the car was totaled but they were ok, hearing that calmed me but I was still worried because I was doing some nursing classes and knew that he could be saying he was ok but internally it could be another story. I kept my phone on all day in hopes of updates. Now he is fine but if they did not get help from another driver I am not sure where they would be today.

Another time that has affected me was about a month ago two days before High school graduation. I lost an amazing friend due to reckless driving. My best friend and I went to our High School Baccalaureate and Award Ceremony when it was over we were going to go get food. When we got to the restaurant one of our friends called my bestie and sounded worried. She is pregnant so we thought something happened with the baby or her daughter but no it was worse it was her fiance. She told us he died in a car accident. He was the passenger, his cousin, my other friend’s brother, and another boyfriend was driving and was not wearing a seatbelt. Turns out they were going too fast and flipped when the road turned. Lets just say we did not get food that night instead I took her home and I went home and I cried. I lost my friend due to death. It hurts every day knowing he is about to be a dad and was already like a dad to his fiance’s daughter. He was such a fun, happy person so that’s what we tried to be for graduation but I could not stop crying. I was trying not to focus on it when my school counselor asked me about it. I pulled my best friend aside and told her what happened since at that time we did not know who else knew. My friend and I have been leaning on each other a lot since this happened. We just keep reminding ourselves that we have to stay positive for him. Rest in peace my friend.

From their mistakes I have learned to pay close attention when I am driving. If the light is yellow I begin to stop. I pay attention to speed limits and other signs of the road. I take caution when turning in case another driver is not or is speeding. I check my mirrors when I get in the car and take roads I know. Only go in cars with people I know are licensed. I do not go for joy rides and I do not go on long trips with people I am not sure how they drive. When I am with other siblings or friends I will remind them when they are going too fast or forget something. I advise uninsured or unlicensed drivers to stay off the road. All in all, cars will always be dangerous but with everyone’s help we can make driving a little safer for all.