Name: Sabrina Benvin
From: Allentown , Pennsylvania
Votes: 0
Driver
Education and Safety
To
be completely honest, I am probably going to win the “most
likely to crash their car” award when senior superlative voting
occurs; not the most prestigious award to win let me tell you. The
amount of times I have dented my car, gotten rear ended, rear ended
someone else, gotten hit in a parking lot, and had flat tires add up
to more than I can count.
My
2013 Ford Focus was the most useful present I had ever gotten up to
this point (emphasis on the “was”).
I had so much freedom and I could FINALLY play my
music playlists on a drive. A few weeks ago I was driving home from
the store and the main road I had to go on was closed. I followed all
of the other cars and turned left onto a road I’d never driven on.
At this point it was rush hour, there was traffic, and I didn’t
really know how to get home from where I was. So what did I do? Grab
my phone and go to navigation of course; my phone will know where to
go right? Well clearly the little man in my phone wasn’t
functioning properly and the only route that showed up brought me
right back to the closed road. Next thing I know I was sitting next
to a tow truck driver as he towed my car to his shop. I had driven
into the person in front me of because I was more focused on my
malfunctioning GPS then of my surroundings.
This
happens to be my most recent accident, in fact, my car is still at
the shop! I know I’m
not the only young driver who has gotten into multiple accidents and
a lot of them are way more dangerous and life threatening than mine.
I remember a few years back a senior was driving me to track practice
and she managed to completely change into her running clothes while
she was driving! I couldn’t even count the amount times she swerved
and I was terrified. Drivers ed is SO important in keeping
everyday people safe, wether it’s the new, distracted driver or the
unsuspecting person whose car could get hit.
I did have a few driving lessons before I got my license but I would
hardly consider them to be worth it. They weren’t
through a real driving school and I regret that. So many of my
friends had multiple lessons from driving schools before getting
their licenses’ and they are much better and safer drivers than me.
From what I have learned, I believe defensive driving is one of the
most important lessons one can learn in order to be a lower-risk
driver. After my multiple car calamities, I stand firm in my belief
that new drivers should be required to take a certain amount of
lessons before getting their licenses. These lessons should cover the
basics as well as safety precautions and rules.
I have already begun to take steps towards becoming a safer driver.
My parents and I jointly decided I should take REAL driving lessons
as well as an online driver safety course. Additionally, I made a
pact with myself and my parents that I would put my phone out sight
during my drive, we even went out and bought an actual GPS. I think
many parents should realize the risks of driving and take more time
to instill safe habits into their teens.
