Name: Cailin Elizabeth Lewis
From: Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
Votes: 0
Dreadful.
That’s how most peers described Drivers Ed. Sitting for three
hours straight after school, when I had been sitting for eight hours
already seemed like more torture! Of course this was before I started
the courses. I was in fact excited to enter the adult world. My
excitement quickly faded after hearing stories of deadly collisions
and fatalities. Reality set in and the importance of Driver’s
Education became clearer, driving is dangerous, and it was my
responsibility to make the best choices possible when behind the
wheel.
The
more rules and regulations I learned within Drivers Ed, the more I
took them out into the real world. My own father, a law enforcement
officer, had to tell me to stop bugging him about how many seconds it
took to officially stop at a stop sign. Having the information fresh
in my mind caused me to be overly cautious about tiny details.
Unfortunately, the young and inexperienced drivers on the road are
more knowledgeable than experienced drivers. In order to reduce
deaths, the knowledge of drivers has to grow. Billboards can be
utilized, mandatory online refresher courses, yearly legal updates on
traffic infractions, government funding community groups such as
Watch for Me NC are all ways to better educate the public. Watch for
Me NC provides materials to community groups to educate all members
of society on pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Several
years ago a middle school student walked across a marked crosswalk
and was struck by a vehicle, sadly the pedestrian passed away. My
Outer Banks community rallied and created various educational
outreaches to inform the public on driver safety. New traffic lights
have been installed by the Department of Transportation so the sun
doesn’t affect visibility. The Outer Banks Bike and Pedestrian
Coalition was formed which provides lights, educational materials,
and bike rodeo outreaches to the public. Police officers have come
into Drivers ed classes to speak and answer questions.
There are about 3,300 vehicle deaths per day caused by carelessness.
Driving is a privilege, and individuals should treat it as such.
As
a high school senior, an older sibling, a volunteer, and a driver, I
feel it is my responsibility to be a role model for others. I
encourage my peers to take the drivers ed class and not wait
until they turn eighteen because it provides a tremendous amount of
information. Also, I use various apps so I can’t text and drive.
As a runner, I make sure I run on the correct side of the road and
wear appropriate clothing so I can be seen. I can’t do it alone,
yet I also understand that my effort helps. The more people I reach
out to, the more they can reach as well. It takes a village
therefore we are all together in this with whichever mode of
transportation we use. We all have a responsibility to educate
ourselves so we can in turn educate others. This cycle ultimately
makes the roads safer for everyone.
