Name: Taylor Kerr
From: Murray , Kentucky
Votes: 0
In
the Driver’s Seat
Get
in the car. Put my cell phone out of sight. Start the engine and go
to campus. That’s my routine every time I get behind the wheel.
More people really need to observe the bit about putting the cell
phone out of sight. In fact, my mother and I were hit in a driveway
by a driver talking on her cell phone. It was a shared driveway, and
she backed into the passenger side of the car while on her phone. The
passenger side took a blow and it required repairs. Point is, driving
is a task that requires you to stay alert and stay focused. Texting
while driving, drinking, eating—all these distractions make it
harder to anticipate problems and it causes traffic accidents. Safer
roads begin with us. Drivers ed for new drivers helps
reduce traffic accidents and we all should do our part behind the
wheel to reduce accidents.
It
begins with drivers ed and it’s really
important—especially for new drivers. According to the law firm,
Jones and Swanson, “drivers ed teaches to develop
rudimentary vehicle control and traffic maneuvers” (Jones and
Swanson). It also teaches drivers how to cope with challenging
driving situations like driving at night and busy intersections.
Drivers ed drills into students the importance of looking
ahead and foreseeing trouble. Many people are still on the fence if
drivers ed helps at all. However, a study performed at the
University of Nebraska shows that drivers who took a driver’s
education course were involved in fewer crashes. Eleven percent of
the group had traffic accidents compared to the twelve percent who
did not take a course (“Drive Safely”). In hindsight, I wish I
had taken a drivers’ education course. It would’ve helped me
develop that basic knowledge, and maybe I wouldn’t be so nervous
driving. However, there are still things I do to be safe in the
driver’s seat.
There
are many steps one can take to be a safe driver. For starters, that
means removing the distractions. For most people my age, that means
cell phones. I always put my phone in the glove compartment, on mute,
and out of sight. It removes the temptation. Besides, if something is
that important, it can wait until I’m not on the road. I also make
sure to get plenty of rest. According to Kidshealth, driving while
drowsy is just as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol or
drugs. If I’m tired, I stay in the library or take a nap. Finally,
anticipation is key. You should always watch out for other people and
scan thirty to forty seconds ahead (“Gray”). My dad even says you
should look fifty
seconds
ahead. This helps you anticipate reckless drivers, animals, and other
hazards. Driving is no easy feat and as my great-grandmother says,
“You have to watch out for the other guy. If we all do our part, we
can make the roads safe for everyone.
