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Driver Education 2020 – Driving, Defense or Offense?

Name: Robert Zachery Brewer
From: Central, South Carolina
Votes: 0

Driving, Defense or Offense?

Driving, Defense
or Offense?


Of course we all start out “driving” our bicycle fantasizing
about it being a shiny race car speeding across the finish line to
win the championship…! So, when it is time to drive a car we are
ready to go, we think. Driving a car is a totally different animal
than the bike days. Learning respect for the beast you are in
control of is the most important part of the driving process.
Drivers ed class helps in teaching respect. Respecting the
car, the person riding the bike in the bike lane, the curb, the car
in the lane beside you, the red light that you must stop at, and most
of all the teacher sitting beside you in the car. Driver’s
education covers many facets of driving safety, defensive driving and
offensive driving. Drivers ed is an important part of
reducing the number of fatalities on the road ways today. Normally,
individuals are around 15 when they take this class. Some of them
before ever being behind the wheel of anything other than a lawn
mower or a Barbie jeep. There are steps to learn before driving on
your own and it is all of our responsibilities to learn each step.
When to be and defensive driver. Always being an offensive driver is
a very important. What to do as a passenger or observer.

Offensive driver,
making sure all of your lights work, tire pressure is good and gas in
the tank. Being an offensive driver is keeping both hands on the
wheel, driving the speed limit, keeping appropriate distance between
you and the car in front of you, using turn signals, etc. Being and
offense driver would only work if there was no chance of a person
walking, no bike rider or no deer running out in front of your car.
We know that is impossible to predict, so we must be prepared for
anything and that is the defensive side of driving.

Having a great
offense only makes the defense stronger. This is possible because
the better you prepare yourself offensively the more aware you will
be of the defensive strategies you will need when the time may arise.
A defensive driver is one who plans for the car coming up to the
stop sign and not stopping. The one who scans the sides of the road
to check for people walking or animals close to the road. The one at
the red light making sure all is clear when the light turns green.
These types of actions are brought to your attention in Driver’s
Education class and are proven to save lives.

Passengers also
have an important role. The person driving is responsible for your
wellbeing while you are in the car with them. If the driver is being
unsafe don’t be afraid to speak up or even ask to be let out of the
car. Remind the driver that it is not best to be talking on the
phone or messing with the radio while attempting to drive as well.
Let them know if you would like for them to slow down. Never get
into a car with someone that has or is drinking alcohol or taken
other drugs.

In conclusion,
these are just a few things that are taught in Drivers ed
class. If we would all take them to heart, more lives would be
saved. We all need to slow down and take it step by step while
driving. Getting home to loved ones is the goal at the end of the
day. Be offensive always, but be prepared to play defense when
necessary.

Zach Brewer