
Name: Clover Garrick Jr.
From: Towson, MD
Votes: 0
A Smart Driver is a Safe Driver!
BREAKING NEWS: Driving Sensibly Saves Lives! Simple concept, but not often adhered to enough. Change behaviors and improve outcomes. Many times, while a passenger on the local roads or highways, I see drivers weaving in and out of traffic, being generally impatient or having road rage and I often wonder why? What could possibly be that important to risk your life and the lives of the other drivers around you? Unless there is a life-threatening reason, I usually come up empty. I ask others (my parents, friends and / or siblings) and they often come up blank as well. Nothing matters more than safety on the road at all times. Even in an emergency, you may cause more damage and chaos if you speed and cause an accident or worse. I can find no reason to cause additional harm and regret on the roadways. I often say, staying alive is a vibe!
I began taking virtual classroom driver education courses a few months ago. I have learned so much – even more than my parents have taught me. It is truly eye-opening the amount of mishaps that can happen in one single outing. On the other hand, life can be so pleasant and peaceful if we only choose safe driving and driving without distractions. There are things I didn’t take seriously until I began taking driver education courses. For example, I didn’t understand that driving while distracted can unfortunately not only cause fatal accidents but can also cause critical delays for all involved – chain reactions where other (non-involved) drivers can be negatively affected by my poor choices. In addition to that, it can affect my future driving record – another factor I never considered. Having a clean driving record reduces my (our) insurance costs and can even reduce the costs for my entire area. If everyone chooses safer driving, and it in turn reduces accidents, we will all benefit financially! My driving instructor also mentioned the importance of proper vehicle maintenance. This is something I definitely didn’t consider. Having a flat tire, running out of gas or having a poorly maintained vehicle just die out can all cause chain reaction issues that can lead to accidents or worse. To avoid these issues, look over your vehicle on a regular basis, don’t ignore the warning lights on the dashboard and have regular oil changes – it can save lives!
Fortunately, I have never been in a car accident, but my parents have been. They were waiting at a stop light and then unexpectedly hit from behind. They were the first car in a three-car accident. The person behind them received the first hit, and then hit them. The initial hit was due to a distracted driver. To this day, they are still affected by it, and often look back or get worried when they are stopped at a red light. This has taught me to be extremely careful and watch out at all times. They teach me to not only be careful of how I drive, but to also be a good defensive driver and avoid accidents if it is at all possible. You cannot avoid being hit from behind at a stop light, but if you see someone distracted or driving erratically, be cautious and stay away from them – if it is safe to do so. Sometimes slowing down is all that is needed to avoid accidents in most cases. Seeing a car flipped over almost always means they were speeding and lost control, were distracted or under the influence. Or all three.
I have my driver’s permit and will soon began taking classes in the car and on the road. I practice good – no, great driving skills and keep alert at all times. I am not a nervous driver; I am confident and pay attention to my surroundings. I do not take safe driving for granted. I will be heading off to college in the Fall. My parents always stress the importance of not allowing an unsafe driver to drive me anywhere. If I feel unsafe, I am to ask to be let out (in a safe area) then get an Uber or any other way to get back to safety. Putting my foot down and making anyone understand that I will not tolerate unsafe driving is a way to keep myself safe, and possibly guilt someone else into thinking harder and changing their behavior. Becoming a mature young adult involves making unpopular decisions that may save your life one day. Better safe than sorry!