I recently passed my driving test and am now a licensed driver. I took Driver’s education last spring and I recently took lessons with a private instructor to fine-tune my skills. Having a driver's license is a huge responsibility which I take very seriously. Many people don’t realize the importance of driving defensively. Driver's education is very thorough and goes over all the important details one needs in order to be a good driver. I think it should be a requirement for all drivers, this way our roads would become safer. I had to take the class virtually because of covid laws still enforced, but I still got a lot out of it. Driver’s education is truly important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. I recommend driver’s education to everyone before going for their road test.
There are many things that new licensed drivers still don’t know. For example, today I drove in the rain for the first time today. I needed to put my windshield wipers on, which I really never had to do before. I really never drove in the rain before. Also, my mom reminded me to check to see if my lights were on. Also, I’m still fine-tuning my parking so I try to park away from other vehicles until I can master parking better. Even with driving education, experience and safety are important too.
Some people don’t realize this but driving safely is so important. One of my assignments in driver’s ed were to look up articles of car accidents. I learned that many accidents occurred when the driver was distracted. Texting, drinking, and speeding are a huge problem and can cost lives. To resolve this, it’s important for drivers to not look at their phone until they reach their destination. If they hear a text, they should ignore it. If they get a call, they can possibly answer if they have blue-tooth and talk hands free. If they don’t have blue-tooth or find themselves getting distracted easily, they are better off calling the person back when they’re not in the car. If a person is drinking alcohol, it’s important to call a family member or call an uber to pick you up. You can always get your car the next day. To avoid speeding, it’s important to give yourself extra time when going somewhere. Leave your house fifteen minutes early so there would be no need to speed. Speeding isn’t worth it because it’s not safe and it can cost lives. These are the steps one can take in order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving.
I have been in a car accident recently but I wasn’t the driver. My mom was. In August 2022, my mom was driving and was rear-ended by someone not paying attention. She was stopped in traffic and the guy later admitted to not really paying attention. He offered to pay and not put it under the insurance but she said no. Luckily we were all okay but the car had a lot of damage and was in the shop for months. Also, my mom told me that she and my dad were hit by a drunk driver over twenty years ago. My dad had to endure many surgeries and his health and life are still impacted today from that accident. These experiences and stories are an eye-opener for me because I know how someone’s life can be impacted by one bad decision on the road, or an irresponsible decision before getting on the road.
For me, to be a better and safer driver I need to give my full attention to the road. Also if a car is speeding behind me or swerving in and out of traffic, I can switch lanes and slow down and keep my distance from that car. A car is a heavy machine and can cause a lot of damage if it’s not used properly. It’s also important not to tailgate and give yourself enough space from the car in front of you.
Overall, driving safely is one of the most important things someone can do. There are many fatalities everyday due to distracted drivers and drivers breaking the law. Innocent people do not deserve to be subjected to these senseless acts. Being careful and thinking before getting into a car is important. Drivers need to put themselves in the victims’ shoes. How would they like it if someone accidentally hurt one of their family members due to not paying attention on the road? These are the steps one can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road.