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Driver Education Initiative – Safe Driving: Are You In Good Hands?

Name: Teah Tierra Scott
From: Chandler, AZ
Votes: 0

Safe
Driving: Are
You
In Good Hands?

By:
Teah Scott

The
importance of drivers ed has become increasingly apparent in
recent years. Adults, teens, and children alike are all possible
victims of an irresponsible driver. To put it simply, driver’s
education not only teaches, but demonstrates how imperative it is to
drive safely and defensively. The 2-3 second distraction of checking
a phone or notification could be the difference between life and
death for anyone on the road. Providing drivers ed classes
on high school campuses could also reduce the number of deaths
related to driving. Some people are not fortunate enough to pay for
the classes at a DMV, so having that option available for those
individuals to get practice in a safer, more controlled setting would
be an extremely helpful preventative action to take.

I
have been in a car accident, witnessed family and friends driving
irresponsibly,
and
been witness to accidents on or near my own school campus. For me,
issues surrounding safe driving practices have always been of the
utmost importance; driving is a privilege, not a right, and it can be
revoked if the appropriate rules aren’t being followed. The car
accident I was in happened when I was extremely young, and was the
result of heinous weather conditions. Even in situations where the
appropriate driving protocol is followed incidents can occur, and
people can get hurt. I attend Chandler High School in Chandler, AZ,
and one of the busiest intersections downtown has car accidents
regularly. In the past year alone I’ve seen a car flipped over
because someone ran a red light, a pedestrian get hurt, and students
on campus get hurt for driving too fast in the busy parking lot. Car
accidents are an unfortunate norm where I am from. One trend I have
noticed amongst practiced drivers is that they use their experience
on the road as an excuse for their irresponsible driving actions.
Many times I’ve reminded a parent to get off of their phone on the
highway or a grandparent to buckle their seatbelt, and the
explanation is usually followed with a reference to their years of
driving experience.

Unfortunately,
many people don’t realize their not ‘immune’ to the
repercussions of safe driving until it’s too late and someone has
been severely injured. I believe this mentality can only be rectified
by making drivers ed more accessible and prominent in peoples’
lives. Making simulated situations for drivers to experience before
they get their license or even requiring phones to be silenced on the
road could solve some of these issues. For example, IPhones will go
into Do Not Disturb when it senses you’re driving. Making it so
only certain apps such as maps or emergency calls can be opened when
the vehicle is in motion are steps that could be taken to reduce
fatalities on the road as well.

As
a teen who has recently earned her driver’s license, I make a point
of not using my phone while driving. When teens are added to their
parent’s insurance, the rates almost always spike. Teens are
notorious for texting and driving, having too many distractions in
the vehicle while driving, and just driving irresponsibly in an
attempt to show off. When I get in a car I check my mirrors, adjust
the music and A/C,
and
set my navigation before I even put the car in gear. I do everything
before I get onto the road so I can stay focused when I’m sharing
the road with others, and I recommend that everyone does the same!