Name: Lael Kimberlyn Heisey
From: Westlake, Texas
Votes: 0
Lael Heisey
Age 19
Focused
Behind the Wheel
When
I was in fourth grade, I was playing in my front yard with a few of
my neighborhood friends when we heard a thunderous and startling
sound. I remember my mom frantically running outside to make sure my
friends and I were okay, and the neighbors fearfully running to their
windows and front lawns. When we looked down the street, we saw that
a man in a truck ran directly into the neighbor’s mailbox and into
their front yard. After conversing with the man, we found out that he
was a truck driver who worked all night and fell asleep while
driving. Although it was purely an accident, this incident showed me
the immense responsibility that comes with driving. The man, knowing
he had not slept all night, should have waited and rested before
stepping foot into the driver’s seat. Lucky enough, no one got
injured; however, with proper drivers ed and accountability,
crashes and situations like this can be minimized.
Driver
education is taught through programs and classes in order to prepare
new drivers by providing them with the knowledge they need to obtain
their license. Drivers ed provides individuals with the
resources and tools needed to gain an understanding of the numerous
driving rules and laws, leaving drivers with the responsibility of
following them and being safe. According to DmvEdu.org, in the span
of two years more people are killed from car accidents than were
killed in the Vietnam war, showing the importance of driver
education. In order to reduce the amount of deaths related to
driving, there are numerous steps that can be taken.
One
measure that can be taken to reduce the amount of deaths related to
driving is increasing the emphasis on awareness and choices. The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claims that in 2017,
3,166 people were killed in car crashes from distracted driving.
Distracted driving can entail things such as texting, being under the
influence, eating, being tired, and more. Although drivers ed
courses inform people about the types of distracted driving and their
consequences, to improve the impact these programs can include more
about the ‘how’. For example, rather than simply stating not to
text and drive, drivers ed courses can give participants
alternative options like pulling over to park at a safe area if
sending a text is urgent. The ‘how’ to prevent distracted driving
would provide future drivers with ways to avoid distracted driving,
and it would place more pressure on potential drivers because there
would be no excuse to drive while distracted.
In
order for me to become a safer driver, I plan to think more about my
cognitive state before driving. If I am tired, overwhelmed, upset,
etc. I should take a moment to decompress before getting behind the
wheel. Additionally, I will continue to remind myself not to get
distracted by things like texting and eating while driving. Overall,
I believe that drivers ed courses are pivotal to reducing
danger on the roads.
