Name: Troy Tabilas
From: Denver, CO
Votes: 0
To
Drive or To Die
“The
best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.”
These words from Dudley Moore portray an idea that would normally
scare the average teenage driver. In all honesty, seeing a cop in a
rear-view is a blessing in disguise. Alright, you may get a ticket
tagged with a fine and your parents may be disappointed in you (only
for the moment). But the one thing that is guaranteed is that you are
alive.
Now
we all drive like maniacs from time to time, I’m guilty of doing
that. I went through drivers ed and sat through similar
lessons like you all have (I say similar because I took my class in
Hawaii). Did I pay attention? Almost always. Did I apply what I
learnt in class on the road? I attempted to but never really. Am I
glad I took the class before taking my road test? Now that I think
about it, I’m grateful that I did. Without the knowledge I gained
from drivers ed, I would have most likely skidded off interstate H-3
and down Ko’olau mountain.
Education
is important. This is a common saying used by many parents and it is
true. Drivers ed grants a student power over their vehicle and
the road he or she may take. It is important to understand that
without knowledge of the rules of the road, drivers would be put at a
greater risk. I am not saying that with this knowledge there is no
risk. There are many deaths caused by drivers who text and drive or
drivers that are under the influence. Drivers know that it’s
against the law, yet many do it anyways. But as the saying goes,
“Knowing is half the battle”. A driver may know what the rights
and wrongs are, but it is their responsibility to follow what is
right. If you drive like hell, you’ll certainly get there.
What
can help reduce the driver death count? Many actions have contributed
to lowering the count such as police officers doing speed checks and
check points. There are apps that turn off notifications of a persons
phone while said person is driving. There are also good
friends/family that care for your well being by not allowing you to
drive intoxicated or distracted. With all these and there are still
deaths on the road. Many overlook self care or self preservation. If
emotions are unchecked, an emotional driver can drive as recklessly
as a drunk driver. If a driver is sleep deprived or drowsy, sleep
becomes the priority, not driving. All it takes is the wrong actions
at the wrong time. Driver death is avoidable, you just have to be
aware of yourself and others.
Remember
how I mentioned that I almost skidded of Interstate H-3 and down a
mountain. That happened because of the feeling during that moment.
I’m driving one car, my friend is driving his. It’s around 2am
and we’re talking on the phone through our car’s bluetooth. My
friend, being the wild one, proposed we raced all the way to the
mouth of the mountain. I know I said yes but looking back at it, that
was a mistake. It’s raining so the roads are all slippery and being
on a mountain there’s sharp turns and high winds. It’s also 2am and
there’s no one on the road besides us. So we speed up to about 90 –
95 MPH and we’re blazing down the interstate. A turn was coming up
and thinking “I’m a cool guy. I can pull this off” I turn my
wheel to the left in an attempt to drift. My car skids and my heart
sank. I though “Holy shit I’m gonna flip”. Luckily for me my
car spun out while my friend zoomed ahead. I’m glad there was no
one beside us on the road at that time. Not only would I hurt myself,
but I would have hurt other road users as well.
What
can I do to become a better driver? All I can say is that I can be
more aware of my surroundings and practice defensive driving. If I
watch out for myself and drive within the regulations, I will be
fine. All I have to do is drive to my intended location. Other
drivers are doing the same. No one will get hurt if we all stick to
our own business. How can I help other drivers be safe on the road?
First of all I can drive safely. If I drive safely on the road, then
I am doing my part to keep not only myself, but other road users safe
as well. There is a saying in Hawaii that drivers know by heart. That
saying is “Drive with Aloha”. Aloha means a lot of different
things such as love,
peace, and compassion. When someone says drive with aloha, they mean
to drive with love for yourself and others, drive with peace and not
emotional stress, drive with compassion for the other road users.
Driving is always rewarding. The reward is that you get to your
destination safe and sound.
