About twelve years ago on New Year’s Eve, my family was involved in a car accident. We were traveling back home from spending the day celebrating a late Christmas with my elderly great-grandfather who lived about three hours away. It was dark and a little bit snowy. We were still about an hour and a half away from home, and my grandpa was driving our minivan. Out of nowhere, two deer ran in front of our car. Grandpa wasn’t able to avoid them, and we ended up running over both deer. After driving on for a very short distance, we were able to pull off the road and check the van. There was smoke and fluid coming from it, so it had to be shut off. My uncle came to pick us up, and they towed the minivan to a garage for repairs. Although it was an inconvenience, we were so glad that no one was seriously hurt as a result of the accident. Since I was so young at the time, I don’t think that accident had a huge impact on my thoughts about driving. I mean, I know that my grandpa wasn’t driving recklessly. It was simply an accident involving deer which are sometimes unavoidable while driving in northern Pennsylvania. I did learn, however, that drivers need to be careful and remain alert.
The accident that I mentioned was my first experience with an auto accident. When it came time for me to begin thinking about getting a driving permit, I was asked to enroll in a driver’s education course. I think that driver’s education is an important subject that new drivers should participate in. However, it is more than just the classwork part of the learning. It also involves behind-the-wheel learning where students can learn from first-hand experience. Often, that is where the most meaningful learning happens for new drivers. They need to be able to see and understand the scenarios in a hands-on way that allows them to really comprehend. Students who get a lot of behind-the-wheel experience with driving are far more likely to be able to handle scenarios that they encounter when driving on their own. It’s similar to the old saying “practice makes perfect”. Drivers who have had classroom and hands-on experience will be less likely to cause or be involved in fatal car crashes due to their experience.
Fatalities related to driving are so tragic, and in most cases, they are avoidable with
training, concern, and some caution. Obviously, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a huge problem. So many people do this without taking the awful consequences of their actions into consideration. Reminding impaired friends and family not to drive is a good idea, whether it is alcohol, illegal drugs, or even prescription or over-the-counter medications that are causing their impairment. Another step that can be taken to help reduce traffic fatalities is one that is often very difficult. Often, as people get older, their ability to drive becomes impaired. They don’t react quickly enough. They can’t see or hear as well. When we see an elderly relative or friend who really shouldn’t be driving anymore, maybe offering them rides and speaking with whoever would be able to convince them not to drive would be a good idea. It would, however, be a very difficult step.
Some steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver are to keep my speed down, which isn’t something that most teenage drivers tend to do. The freedom that comes from getting a driver’s license makes many teenagers want to drive fast and not worry about being cautious. That’s something that I can work on. Also, I can remember not to do things that are distracting such as texting and making phone calls while I’m driving. Sometimes those few seconds of taking your eyes off the road make a huge difference. I can try not to allow distractions from passengers, and I can make sure not to drive when I am overly sleepy. Driving under any of these circumstances can increase the odds of getting into an accident. These are also things that I can remind my siblings and friends not to do if I see them about to do something dangerous behind the wheel. Next, in order to be a safer driver, I can take my vehicle in regularly for maintenance. This simple step is another way to stay safe on the highways. Keeping a car in good working order is extremely important. Finally, when I’m driving, I can do something that teenagers don’t like to do, which is listen to those who taught me and who care about me. My parents, my friends’ parents, and my driver’s education teacher have all tried to give me advice that will help me to be a better driver. Sometimes, the best course of action is just to remember what I’ve learned along the way.