Name: Benjamin Jeffrey Lander
From: Silverdale, Washington
Votes: 0
Driving, a routine part of most American’s lives. Many people
wouldn’t think twice about getting behind the wheel to drive to
work every morning, but the amount of responsibility a driver holds
for themselves and other drivers is enormous. Crashes are both
preventable and predictable. The answer to safer roads is driver
education.
Simply
understanding the laws and knowing when they apply is a huge step
toward safer roads. For example, near me there are numerous areas
where roads merge with yield signs for the cars merging, yet this
seems to be the place where I have seen many near-misses. Drivers not
understanding the importance of yielding and joining traffic at the
same speed. Education is very important for these situations, as I
remember my driving school instructor’s specific lesson about yield
signs and it increased the safety of my driving. Education about why
little things such as using a blinker and tying down truck loads can
save lives in the long run.
Often times,
people break the rules because they don’t see the potential
consequences. Distracted driving, for example, is a rule that
receives widespread disobedience because everyone thinks that an
accident won’t happen to them. A deterrent to unlawful and unsafe
driving is tickets and fines. Although not every violator can be
caught, stiffer fines can help make people think twice before
speeding, texting, or otherwise reckless driving.
I once had a
near miss of a potential serious accident. Like most accidents, it
was avoidable. Living in Washington State, where the typical year
holds 35+ inches of rain, driving in inclement weather is common. In
this situation I was driving the speed limit with what would have
been a safe following distance for a dry day, but it was raining
hard. When the car in front of me braked, I tried to stop but lost
traction on the wet roads. I narrowly avoided a serious accident, but
I know the outcome could have been much worse. Driving based on the
road conditions and not the speed limit can help to make the roads a
safer place.
A popular phrase
to deter distracted driving is “it can wait.” This phrase not
only applies to texting and driving but also speeding. Getting to
school on time, a text message, or a phone call can wait because all
it takes is a second and someone’s life is on the line. Taking the
time to drive safe, put away distractions and focus on the road can
save countless lives.
