Temporary Distraction Cause Long Term Damage

It
only takes one mistake to lose your life on the road. One. This is
why driving is one of the most deadly things we do on a regular basis
and should be treated as such. Drivers ed serves as a
safeguard for new drivers, ensuring that they know how to navigate
and understand the road rather than studying purely to pass the
driving test. A study by the University of Nebraska shows that
teenagers who do not take drivers ed are 24 percent more
likely to become involved in a collision.

To
even begin reducing auto-related deaths we should start at the cause.
The main cause of these types of fatalities is impairment. This could
be from the influence of a substance, an electronic device, eating,
or anything else that could take your attention from the road for a
split second. Impaired drivers are deadly not only to themselves but
to everyone they share the road with. This is an issue that must be
solved at the community level by taking everyday actions to ensure
that you make it to your destination safely. For example, waiting
until you get home to eat take out, silencing your phone and putting
it away, having a designated driver or calling an Uber. We all need
to do our part to make the road a safer place, so car crashes don’t
happen as often.

I
was involved in a car accident at about 4 years old, riding in the
car with my grandmother and my mom. We were on the highway when a
semi-truck veered into our lane. It was a rainy day so in an effort
to turn away the truck lost traction and the bed began to slide
towards my window eventually hitting it and breaking the glass.
Luckily we all survived the crash, I suffered a small scratch under
my left eye and no other injuries.

Personally,
I will eligible to get my driver’s license on April 3, 2020,
however, that has been postponed until further notice as a result of
the novel coronavirus. When I do receive my license, I am going to
keep my phone in my purse in the backseat while I am behind the wheel
in an effort to reduce distraction, I think this will also help
others who have trouble focusing on the road because of their phone.
Steps can also be taken by making sure that everything that you need
to get done before you leave are taken care of. Everyone who drives
plays a part in making the road a safer place.