Eyes on the Road

Drivers
have the power to take lives and even save them, all of which can
happen in just a few seconds. As a future driver, it is my
responsibility
to
stay aware, take action quickly, and recognize when others are not
following the designated rules and regulations.

Learning
the basics of driving benefits and protects many lives. Handling
vehicles requires
awareness
and prompt reaction time, and Drivers’ Education has taught me to
always expect the unexpected. Cars are more than transportation, they
are potentially dangerous and need to be used with vigilance. No one
should be able to get their drivers’ license unless they show the
ability to act quickly and correctly in the midst of danger. It
doesn’t matter if someone has naturally swift reflexes if they make
wrong decisions, hence the importance of drivers ed. No one is
born knowing everything; the best way to learn is to practice and
make mistakes in a safe area where they can be corrected.

Drivers
must constantly stay focused on the flow of traffic. My grandma told
me to view all road users as enemies poised to attack. While her view
is somewhat amusing, the truth is most drivers are concentrating on
their destination. Distracted driving took the lives of over 3,000
people in 2017, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. A simple strategy to reduce fatalities is to avoid
texting while your hands should be on the wheel. As website
Find-a-Driving-School puts it, “the car is not the place for
multi-tasking”. Another method is to be a safe passenger, allowing
the driver to concentrate and also providing directions if needed so
the driver doesn’t need to look at their map or GPS. A good driver
must be alert and follow road rules.

Driving
accidents are not common in my family, with the exception of a
collision that took place a year ago. A driver was coming off an exit
and crashed into the rear of my grandma’s car, ramming it into a
wall, injuring her, my sister, and the driver at fault. Whether or
not the driver was distracted by their phone or loud music, they were
not being attentive to the road. As cars speed up, so does the
distance needed between them and what’s in front of them (Butler
County’s Engineer Office, 2019).

For
most teenagers, independence is the biggest perk about being able to
drive. However, even adults who have been driving for years know that
this so-called independence is costly. Having this independence means
being obedient to given laws and realizing that you have an important
role. As a future driver, I want to drive safely and as well as be a
good passenger. I will stay aware, scan the road, and be prepared for
the unexpected to happen. I hope that, despite the fact that I am
only one person, I can keep other people safe by acting carefully and
responsibly as a member of society.

Sources:

[email protected].
“U
Drive. U Text. U Pay.”
NHTSA, 8 Jan. 2020, www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving.

Butler
County Engineers Office. “Safe
Driving Tips.”
BCEO,
www.bceo.org/safedrivingtips.html.

“Top
8 Driving Tips to Avoid Accidents.”
Find
A Driving School,
find-a-driving-school.ca/top-8-driving-tips-avoid-accidents/.