Drivers ed Initiative 2020: In the Drivers Seat

Drivers ed teaches people how to safely operate a vehicle
on busy interstates, at night, and during other dangerous driving
situations. People learn about different traffic signals and markings
on the roadway. It teaches them the ability to foresee hazardous and
unsafe situations. People will know how to handle dangerous
conditions which will help them from running off the roads. People
will know what reckless driving is and learn how to remain calm and
patient while driving, so that they do not cause careless accidents.
Drivers ed also emphasizes the importance of following the
speed limit and not driving under the influence of a substance or
while distracted on a mobile device.

Breathalyzers can be placed on cars as to where driver’s must
breath into the breathalyzer before starting the car up and if the
driver is intoxicated then the car won’t start. Drivers can connect
their phones to their car, so that if they absolutely must take a
phone call that they are using the car’s Bluetooth. This would
eliminate the phone from physically being in the drive’s hand.
Avoiding tailgating cars, multi-tasking and running red lights while
driving can also reduce driving related deaths. Wearing seat belts
and driving the speed limit even when you are late will also help.

A year ago, I was on my way to pick up one of my teammates, so we
could go to a morning basketball workout before school. I had left
the house and was rushing because I was running late. As I was making
a left turn at an intersection to get to my teammates house, I hit a
car. I thought I had enough time to make it across, but I was wrong.
The car spun around and was in the middle of the street. I made it
across the intersection as my car kept going. I stopped my car to
check to see if it was alright. I saw my front end had some damage,
but the car was still drivable. I hopped back in my car and started
panicking. I called my mother and told her I was in a car accident.
My dad arrived first, then my mother, and eventually my grandmother.
I told them all what happened, and they were disappointed in me
especially my mother. She didn’t know I was picking up my teammate
and was mad at me because it was her old car and I didn’t let her
know I was picking someone up. The police arrived shortly, and after
talking to them for nearly an hour in the rain, we were able to get
everything straightened out, even though the person driving the other
car was driving without a license and they had switched drivers
before the police arrived. The police told me how that if I would
have left the scene then I would’ve been charged with a
hit-and-run. I got a ticket for failure to yield. My dad drove
without a license for a long time and he is always texting, on the
phone, or on social media while driving. He gets distracted and
constantly swerves his car to avoid an accident. This has not been a
good example for me being a new driver.

I can be
a safer driver by not eating, being on my cell phone, or talking to
my friends while driving so that I am not distracted. I can stop
changing the songs I play in my car from my phone when I use the aux
cord, so that I do not touch my phone at all. I can obey the speed
limits, adhere to yield and stop signs even when I’m running late
or in a hurry. I can scan farther and make sure I leave a good
distance between me and the car ahead so that in case of an
emergency or dangerous conditions, I have enough time to use my
brakes instead of having to slam hard on them or being super close
behind the car in front of me. I can be patient at intersections and
not try to cut in front of other cars. I can also help others be
safer on the road by using hand signals when necessary and not being
an aggressive driver even when people cut me off.