Name: Alec R. Darminio
From: Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Votes: 0
Alec
Darminio
Importance
of Safe Driving
Automobile
accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers aged 12-19
in the United States.1
Many accidents are caused by the driver being distracted or under the
influence of alcohol. People who sit in the driver’s seat of a
vehicle should know that their full attention needs to be on the road
and be aware of other cars, bikers, and pedestrians around them.
Drivers ed courses are very important for teens because
they educate teens about the risks and how to properly handle an
object that weighs over two tons. If everyone takes driver’s
education, there will be fewer deaths because more and more people
will learn how to drive safely and sober, knowing the rules of the
road, and not being distracted behind the wheel.
There
are many steps that can be taken to reduce deaths in automobiles.
First, keep all electronics turned off or away from the driver at all
times. It is not worth an accident to respond to a text message.
Second, drivers should never drink before handling a car. If everyone
in the vehicle has had an alcoholic beverage, call for a cab. Driving
under the influence of alcohol puts everyone in the car at risk and
everyone else on the road. Another measure that could be taken to
reduce deaths in automobiles is more drivers ed. A safe
driving course every ten years would remind people of the rules of
the road and impact of texting and driving while intoxicated.
Fortunately,
I never have been in a car accident. However, I have seen others
drive irresponsibly. One afternoon, my family was driving down the
street when to our left, a driver in a white vehicle made a left onto
our road. Unfortunately, a large car was driving very fast in the
other direction and was distracted. The larger car t-boned the
smaller white car. It happened so fast and demonstrated how glancing
at a text for just seconds can have a devastating result.
When
driving I can take the following steps to stay safe: (1) knowing the
rules of the road (2) eliminate distractions by making sure my phone
is turned off and (3) drive defensively. At a four way stop two weeks
ago, the car I was in came to a complete stop. One car safely drove
when it was their turn and then another. After the second car had
passed, I had the right of way. However, the driver behind the second
car lost patience and drove straight through the stop sign, right
behind the second car. I stopped to avoid an accident and then waited
until the intersection was clear before continuing along. By knowing
the rules, paying attention, and driving sober and defensively, I can
avoid most accidents.
