Close Calls and Safe Driving Habits

Cael
O’Neill

Solon,
Iowa

cp9oneill@gmail.com

Close
Calls and Safe Driving Habits

Being
an uneducated driver can put you or others’ lives in danger.
Drivers ed taught me that the ‘little things’ matter when
driving, and when you don’t pay attention to them, bad things can
happen. Inexperienced teenagers may eventually learn to drive safely
through experience, however, it is safer for everyone if they are
taught how to be safe drivers before they begin driving. By educating
the inexperienced drivers, the number of deaths is greatly reduced.

 There
are many simple steps you can take to become a better driver and
reduce fatalities. The most obvious step is to always keep your eyes
on the road, and continue to scan your surroundings, rather than
stare. Avoid distractions: don’t mess with the radio, use your
phone, or look at navigation because your surroundings can change,
and hazards can appear when you take your eyes off the road. You
should always leave early, so that you can drive slower and increase
your reaction time. And of course, always keep both hands on the
steering wheel, buckle your seat belt, and don’t be distracted by
others in the car. I also think it would be good for experienced
drivers to repeat their education on occasion. This could help remind
them of some safe driving habits that they might have forgotten. If
everyone follows these driving tips, the number of deaths related to
driving will dramatically decrease.

In
April 2019, I was in an accident at a four-way stop sign. I came to a
complete stop, and then proceeded into the intersection. An older
gentleman ran the stop sign and broadsided me. Fortunately, there
were no injuries, only damage to my vehicle, but the accident
could’ve been a lot worse. This person was driving distracted,
didn’t see the stop sign, and did not see my SUV in the
intersection until it was too late. He was not following the most
important rule of driving, keeping your eyes on the road. 

There
are several things that I can do to become a safer driver and help
others to be safer. One thing I could do is to try to anticipate
hazards, rather than react to them. If I had anticipated that
gentleman running the stop sign, my accident may have been avoided. I
also need to use my cruise control when possible. This would allow me
to keep my eyes on the road, rather than glancing at my dash. I can
help others become better driver’s by setting a good example when I
have friends in the car and hope to influence their driving skills.
By avoiding driving in other people’s blind spots and following
people too closely, I can reduce their distractions while driving.  

The
collision that I was in was very scary, and a wakeup call. You can
trust that I will continue safe driving habits and encourage others
to become safer drivers. Thank you for your consideration.