Name: Branden Bellfield
From: Englewood, CO
Votes: 0
Driver
Education Initiative Essay Contest
What
is the importance of drivers ed in reducing the number of
deaths as a result of driving? One simple word; awareness.
There should be a constant reminder that drivers need to stay
vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times when they’re
behind the wheel. Today, people will get in a car and talk on the
phone, eat a sandwich or apply their mascara while barreling down the
highway at 55 miles per hour. Every single one of those people
wouldn’t have dared to do these things while taking their drivers
test. It’s because they have forgotten that driving is a
responsibility not to be taken lightly, and that sense of
responsibility has faded since we only have to take our driver’s test
(and pass) once in our lifetime. A new law should be enacted
that every ten years people who want to keep their license
should retake a drivers refresher course, and pass a written test to
keep their driver’s license. It’s imperative that
there be a new system to ensure that all drivers are playing by the
same rules. Traffic accidents and deaths are caused because everyone
thinks their way of driving is the correct way, but in reality very
few people are following the same procedures. Drivers ed
helps everyone become more aware of the risks of driving and how to
hand difficult driving conditions. I have asked drivers with years of
experience the same 4 questions about driving. Out of the ten drivers
polled, half believed in different ways to merge and to exit on to
and off highways.
What
steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?
In addition to having all drivers retested every ten years to ensure
they are aware of the law of driving, people need to slow down, use
their signals, wear their seatbelts and respect one another.
There should be a no tolerance law for people who want to weave in
and out of traffic. All drivers should remain in the lane they choose
until the need to get over for an exit or a turn. Most of all,
everyone — no matter their age — needs to stay off of their phones;
no texting or calls. The rise in traffic accidents are significant
since the cell phone because an everyday item people cannot live
without. The law that some states have that teens aren’t allowed to
even have a phone in the front seat should be nationwide and should
be extended to all drivers. Even an experienced driver can still
become distracted from a call or text.
Have
you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen
your friends or family members driving irresponsibly? Yes, I was a
passenger in a car when a distracted driver rear ended my mother’s
car. We were stopped in traffic when we were hit from behind by a car
that was going at least 40 miles per hour. This almost forced us to
hit the car in front of us. However, we had maintained a safe
distance from the car we were behind and had enough room that we
didn’t hit them. The driver at fault was a 19-year old that admitted
to the police he was texting and driving. Both cars were a
severely damaged and both drivers had been hurt with whiplash. The
airbags even went off and the battery became loose in engine. The
impact from the rear was major. We missed the car in front by inches
from the force of the impact.
What
steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help
others become safer on the road? Number one slow down, next, keep a
safe driving distance from the car in front of you, Never tailgating.
Use your turn signals when needed. Let people merge in your lane when
they need to get over as that extra second will not ruin your day.
Being kind to others because flipping someone off for racing around
you only encourages road rage and that needs to stop. Everyone is in
a car driving for a reason; they are just trying to get to their
destination of choice. No one wants to end up in the emergency room.
If you want to drive slow get in the slow lane, let others pass.
Drive as if you have a litter of sweet puppies on the back seat.
Continue to be an advocate for safer drivers. Retesting of driving
skills really needs to happen for all drivers every 10 years. People
get too comfortable with the bad driving skills and just drive maybe
the refresher course will keep everyone safer, behind the wheel and
in the streets. Laws do change and a refresher never hurt anyone.
