Eyes on the Road, Not on your Phone!

Drivers ed is
of high importance in reducing the number of driving-related deaths.
Stopping at a stop sign or red light, knowing how to properly
transition between lanes, and understanding the conduct for who has
the “right-of-way” are all pieces, among many more, needed for
the big picture of driving responsively. I was in a car accident
September 2019, and while I am thankful that we both walk away with
minimal injuries, I know it would have been avoidable had the correct
precautions been in place. I was on my way to work. As I was driving,
I passed through an intersection on a parkway that broke off into
neighborhoods. A woman did not adhere to one of the “right-of-way”
standards, being to stop at a stop sign and allow oncoming flow of
traffic to pass before merging, and hit me on the rear, right
passenger side. It was a heart pounding experience, but nothing more
terrifying than wondering if that woman, who had to be rushed to the
hospital, would be alright. As much as I wish for traumatic events
like these to never happen, I know that is too unrealistic.
Fortunately, there are options in place to both educate drivers and
keep everyone safe. For one, some cars offer Driver Assist features,
such as alerting the driver of incoming obstacles, veering into
lanes, and sudden stops. To add on, technology has advanced enough to
allow for hands free travel, including the use of GPS systems, Do Not
Disturb options, voice commands, and Bluetooth. Lastly, the DMV
offers driver improvement courses for those who want to learn more
methods for safe driving. All of these are steps that can be taken in
order to decrease driving-related deaths. In relation to myself, I
aim to be a safer driver by utilizing the hands-free travel feature
in my car more, along with advising my friends and family to stay off
their phone as much as they can.