Driver Education Initiative – In the Driver’s Seat

In The Driver’s Seat

It
is very important for new drivers to take a course in Drivers
Education. Over 37,000 people die yearly as a result of automobile
accidents. Another 2.35 million are injured. Driving is a privilege.
Everyone must respect and obey the laws of the road Driving is not
something to be taken lightly. Your life could be in danger every
time you get behind the wheel If you aren’t paying attention. I
think it should be a law that everyone should take a Drivers ed
course before they can be issued a license. You will not only learn
the laws and rules of the road, you will also get much-needed
practice behind the wheel in a safe environment. I feel that just
one semester does not make a driver proficient enough to be on the
road alone. I think it should be mandatory to take at least one full
year of Drivers ed before being allowed to obtain a
license. I feel this would better prepare drivers and drastically
reduce deaths caused by negligent driving.

One
of my best friends was killed in an automobile accident. One rainy
Saturday afternoon, he left his home. He was driving way too fast.
He was driving into a curve and lost control. He hit a tree at a
speed of 85 miles per hour. He was air flighted to the hospital,
where he later died. He was constantly being told by his parents and
myself to slow down. That would only make him drive faster. He was
a very intelligent young man but very stubborn. He thought he had it
all under control. He had started a rock band that I was lucky
enough to have been a part of. He was very talented. He could play
any instrument he picked up but his favorite was the drums. He was
looking forward to going to college to become a brain surgeon. Sadly
we will never know what he would have become. It seemed like a
nightmare I couldn’t wake up from until I helped to lay him in the
ground. At that moment, the whole thing became real. One of my very
best friends was gone forever. I would no longer have my buddy to
challenge me academically, I vowed that I would always drive the
speed limit and be as safe as I possibly could. I didn’t want my
family and friends to have to suffer such a devastating loss.

There
are several things a driver can do to be safe. First, make sure your
cell phone is turned off so you won’t be tempted to text or talk
while driving. Second, make sure seatbelt is on, mirrors are
adjusted, set radio controls where you want them at a volume that
won’t be distracting and set the temperature at a comfortable
level. If you do these things before you crank the car, you won’t
have to readjust the settings and get distracted while driving. You
also need to be vigilant while driving. Watch out for other drivers
that may be crossing the center lane or running a red light. Make
sure to keep a safe distance behind the car in front of you so you
have plenty of time to stop if they stop suddenly. Always give
yourself plenty of time to travel so you won’t be tempted to speed
to get there in time. If everyone will do all these things it can
help cut down on the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents.