Name: Heaven Lee Cadena
From: Missouri City, TX
Votes: 0
My mom has always
told me education is key to everything in life, especially when
behind the wheel of a vehicle. For my sixteenth birthday, my present
was a drivers ed course so that I would be equipped with
the knowledge of what the laws were and how to not only keep myself
safe, but other drivers as well. Like many new drivers, I was
involved in an accident within the first year of getting my first
car, however I was able to conduct myself without panic. From that
experience, I am much more aware of how quickly accidents can happen.
Contrary to
popular belief, being an educated driver is more than just knowing
what the laws are, but it’s also using simple common sense.
Understanding what laws and responsibilities I would have as a driver
was a lot to learn during the course. But hearing the true stories
of the dangers of being a distracted driver was eye opening and I
didn’t take it lightly. Distractions such as other passengers,
texting, and having the music too loud could all lead to serious
accidents.
Steps to be taken to reduce deaths related to driving is
acknowledging what distractions there are as well as being a
defensive driver when other drivers aren’t paying attention. After
buckling my seatbelt, I have made it a habit to put my phone on
airplane mode to reduce distractions from calls and texts. I have
learned that I must pay attention to how other drivers are driving.
Not everyone takes the steps to not be distracted and I must watch
out for those type of drivers.
Like many new
drivers, I was involved in my first accident less than a year of
getting my first car. It was the scariest day of my life but also a
life lesson that I advise everyone I know now. I was adjusting the
volume on my radio, and within a second of looking down, the car in
front of me stopped and I had a head on collision. It is true, it
only takes a second to be the cause of a major accident. Thankfully,
everyone was able to walk away unscratched.
I help others be
safe drivers from what I have learned in drivers ed,
personal habits, as well as living through an accident I was the
cause of. With having drivers ed so fresh in my memory, I
can remind my mom of traffic laws that aren’t commonly practiced
that she may have learned once and never used again. Being a
teenager, I have many friends who are new drivers and are still
developing habits. I’ve been able to advise my friends of simple
habits such as putting their phone on airplane mode before putting
the car in drive.
All in all,
although I am a teenager and considered to still be a new driver, I
feel I have been educated by both drivers ed and experience
with an accident. Drivers ed really can save lives!
