Name: Kolby E Long
From: Bowling Green, MO
Votes: 0
I strongly
believe in driver safety programs and stricter regulations on unsafe
drivers. I personally know the impact that reckless drivers can have
on society. My cousin was killed two years ago due to the driver of
the vehicle he was in. The driver was doing 80 miles per hour in a 35
mile per hour road zone. This driver was 32 years old and should
have known better than to be going this fast. He also was under the
influence of marijuana and alcohol. My cousin was only 18. As result
of his death I went into a depression and was reckless with my
driving. I had just got my driver’s license two months prior. As
result one day I went to pass a school bus when I did not have enough
time to pass, and I ended up hitting the school bus. Thankfully, no
one was injured.
Driver’s
education courses were dropped at my school several years ago. Since
the class was dropped our area has had several teenage driving
deaths. I feel that if this course was still given the rate of
teenage driving deaths would be reduced. Yes, there is the permit
stage of driving but in many cases the teenagers do not get the
number of hours they are supposed to get while driving under the
supervision of another driver. There is no true tracking of the
number of hours they have behind the wheel. With these classes you
have in class lecture about driving safety and how to properly
operate a vehicle. After the student passes the lecture part then
there is numerous hours of driving with the instructor. My mother
told me that she had taken the class and that she remembered more of
the classroom time than what she read in a book. They also had in
this class a drunk driver simulator. She stated that made an impact
on her driving.
I also believe
that there needs to be stronger penalties for driving reckless. The
guy that killed my cousin had numerous driving offenses. He was even
sent to driving school in which he flunked, but he was still allowed
to have a driver’s license. How can you have a driver’s license
when you flunk a court ordered driving school? And as of last check
he still has his license even though he has been convicted of
manslaughter. If more people would lose their license and be
sentenced to safe driving courses to where they have to pass, I
believe our streets would be safer.
As for my own
driving; I have learned what the costs are for driving reckless. Not
only do my actions affect me but they also affect anyone on the road.
As result, I make sure I follow all speed limits, don’t take
chances on passing, and am aware of those around me at all times. I
have also reread the driving book and have installed in my car a
safety device that tracks my driving
