Avoid the Inevitable

Driver education is extremely important, though its not required in all states. But as an incentive, some insurance companies discount folks who took drivers ed. Drivers ed extends one’s knowledge of rules and tips to ensure a lower risk for fatalities caused by car accidents. The three top causes of car accidents are: Distracted Driving, Drunk Driving, and Speeding. How does it feel to be in an accident because of one of these? What can we do to prevent these accidents? How can we all team together to make American roads safer?

In February of 2010, my mom and I thought that I had missed my bus. So, she loaded up our minivan, me, aged six, my oldest brother, aged four, my youngest brother, aged two, and my younger sister, who had just turned one. My mom got in and started driving us, when a man who was distracted and claimed he was “counting the seconds of the [red] light,” ran the light and collided with the rear end of the vehicle, where I was sitting; then spun and hit the front of our vehicle, sending us flying into a storefront. My brother hit his head on the brand new dish strainer my mom had bought the day before. Time seemed to slow as I watched a chunk of glass narrowly pass by the bridge of my nose. My mom sustained blunt force injuries to her leg, leading to a permanent cluster of scar tissue forming just below the surface of her skin. I was lucky that the only injuries I sustained, as young as I was, included seatbelt bruising, a couple of bruised ribs, and an upset stomach. I was frazzled when I heard what the man said. He denied responsibility for getting dangerously close to severely injuring several young children.

To prevent being in these types of accidents, we can make sure we are clearly watching our surroundings, paying attention to auditory signals, and encourage others to do the same. Pay attention to signs, lights, other cars, pedestrians, and watch out for animals, such as deer, cats, dogs, raccoons, opossums, and even bears. Swerving to avoid any of these can cause even worse accidents which may still harm whatever you are trying to avoid; as well as others. When driving, ensure you pull over for emergency vehicles, so they can do their job. Stay off your phone, even if it's just a phone call. According to DriverKnowledge.com, using your phone reduces your brain’s focus on the road by 37%.

Driver Education classes take up relatively few hours in your day, but it could save the lives of you and others, as well as saving money on insurance. You not only learn safety essentials and important laws and rules of the road, but also how to correct certain dangerous situations including hydroplaning, avoiding wildlife, and watching for intoxicated drivers. Take drivers ed and help keep our roads safe. You never know when you will be in an accident.