Behind the Wheel

Alyson Spaulding

Behind the Wheel

Driving is an under rated task. It requires full attention and sound judgment for long periods of time. Drivers ed not only teaches students what to do behind the wheel, but how to respond in worst case situations. Drivers ed helps students learn how to remain calm and not make rash decisions when put under pressure. The online portion helps the students learn simple things that are often put on the back burner. These small things can lead to big problems when completely forgotten about. Drivers ed makes sure these things are in the forefront of new drivers minds. The driving portion puts the new driver in a controlled environment. They are supervised by a professional and purposely withheld from overly stressful situations until they are ready. Even when a stressful situation comes to action, they have a helping hand in the passenger seat the whole time. With all this being said, drivers ed prepares new drivers for the real road. Without drivers ed, the number of accidents from lack of knowledge and experience would result in a multitude of casualties.

The number of accidents is still higher than ideal. One step that can be taken to decrease that fact is making drivers ed a requirement. At this time, drivers ed is required for 15 year olds that wish to get their permit. If someone would wish to opt out of taking drivers ed they can wait until they are 16 and take their permit test then. If drivers education is made a requirement for all wishing to obtain their license and/or permit, it would guarantee proper education for all drivers and reduce the number of deaths involving car accidents. Another step that can be taken is to require more supervised driving with a driving instructor. This would give the driver a more knowledgeable person to guide them in learning the ways of the road. Yes, driving with an instructor is already a requirement, but the required time is sub par and can be increased. One last thing that I believe would almost dissolve deaths involving car accidents as a whole is regulating phone use in the vehicle. If car companies could somehow create a storage unit for cell phones that is like a key, the car would not start until the cell phone was put in the compartment. The car would then start and the cell phone would be locked away until the vehicle was not in motion. If all car companies turned to this and gave consumers no substitutes, drivers would have no option than to put their phones away.

I have been driving for a little over a year. I have never been in a serious accident, but there have been times where I was glad I was paying attention. There have been times where I was glad there wasn’t a car in front of me or behind. I have made driving mistakes, but I am lucky to not have had any of them result in bad accidents. I have seen irresponsible driving with my friends, and it only encourages me to be a better driver so I never scare my passengers or put anyone in danger.

There are many steps that I can take to become a better and safer driver. Though there is no regulation on my cell phone in my car, I can put it away and silence it so I am not tempted to check it. Another step I can take to be a safer driver is to recognize my surroundings at all times. Every time I get into my car, I need to recognize that I am in control of the car and I need to be responsible as that is the case. With that being said, when I am with my friends, I can encourage them to pay attention to the road, and not initiate distracting conversations. One quote that I can tell others and even myself is “prepare and prevent, don’t repair and repent.”