Perils of the Road

Every year 200,000 people are involved in car accidents. I was one of those people. I was trying to switch lanes and neglected to check my blind spot. I usually turn on my signal, check all my mirrors, check my blind spot, and then switch lanes, however, I was distracted as I had my friend in the car and the music was fairly loud. When I went to switch lanes, I bumped into the car next to me. Thankfully no one was hurt and neither car was damaged, but I was unsure in the moment. I freaked out and my friend had to talk me through it. This experience shaped the way I drove then and after. I always check my blind spot, no matter how much of a hurry I’m in. I have my friends talk quietly and tell them to stop talking when I need to focus. Lastly, I drove with the radio at a low volume. I feel like these three changes greatly improved my driving. I firmly believe that if I had been able to attend driving school this incident would never have happened, or I would have been much calmer if it did.

Driving is a big responsibility. Teens and adults alike fail to grasp the importance of safe driving. You must be constantly on alert, scanning for other cars, dangers in the road, and pedestrians. Some people shirk these responsibilities and drive recklessly. This may cost them their lives.

Drivers Education is a great opportunity for new and inexperienced drivers to learn about road safety. I have unfortunately not had the opportunity to attend as Covid-19 hit right when I started driving. My brother, however, did attend and he shared with me the important lessons they taught. When I drove with him, I noticed his alertness on the road, and how seriously he took road safety. He has a deep understanding of the rules of the road and what he needs to do to drive safely. I believe that his driving education will be a huge benefit to him as he continues driving, and it will keep him and others on the road safe.

The importance of driver’s education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving cannot be understated. Learning the rules of the road from an expert driver can do nothing but good. There is a reason why most driving violations end with the culprit enrolled in driver’s education. Drivers Education prevents further accidents and leads to safer drivers on the road.

The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving all relate to knowledge. You need to know the rules of the road, what you can do to keep yourself, and others safe, and how different substances, such as alcohol and marijuana, impair your driving ability. All these things can be learned through a driving course. In this learning environment, you learn about how each specific road sign works, what to do in an emergency situation, and all about how substances affect your brain. The other way to gain knowledge on these topics is through independent research. There are many websites you can visit and videos you can watch. There are a multitude of videos where people use substances, then drive; in a controlled environment, to show the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. You can also find many websites with road sign quizzes. Knowledge is the key to reducing the number of deaths related to driving.

The steps I can take to be a better and safer driver are to keep learning and remain vigilant. I must constantly watch the road, keeping my eyes on the cars behind, in front, and around me. I need to keep calm while driving and in any future accidents that may happen, and I need to always be open to learning more from those that know more than I do and ask them questions about road safety. Doing all of that will make me a better and safer driver.

To help others become safer on the road I need to share my knowledge, let them know when they are breaking a rule of the road. When my friends make a rolling stop, I must let them know the unnecessary risk they just took. When I’m in a car with someone and they send a text while driving, I need to take their phone away. I need to be the annoying friend that keeps everyone safe on the road.