Being Safe Behind The Wheel

When learning something as important as driving for the first time, it is important to take driver's education. Drivers’ education teaches the importance of being able to understand and follow the laws and rules of the road. Driver’s education also helps equip upcoming drivers with the knowledge and skills that are needed when navigating the road responsibly and confidently. Driving instructors help ease you into how to drive and are able to give important feedback to new drivers. Driving is a privilege and responsibility and not just a right to those of legal age. You are taking your life and the lives of those who share the roads into your hands each and every time you drive on the roads. Education and training is extremely important. New drivers are often distracted drivers which causes a lot of avoidable crashes. Cell phones are a big distraction and sadly at fault for a lot of crashes. We live in a world where it seems a cell phone is now a physical part of our bodies as we are never without them. They can be helpful to navigate in the car but only when it is in a hands-free situation. Idaho has made it illegal to be on your phone while driving, which I think is a step in the right direction. To help enforce the law, I think increasing the fines and penalties for those who still drive and use their cell phones is something that will need to be done to help save lives. I do think more education about being a safe driver needs to be taken into the school as well. I would recommend to start with kids who are almost of age to take driver training and continue the education all the way to seniors in high school. I think they need to see how in less than one second, their lives and the lives of others on the road can completely change. It is a ripple effect and ultimately, we as drivers need to understand the weight of that responsibility to drive. I would also encourage insurance companies to give rewards after certain time periods with no accidents and no distracted driving as an incentive to put the phones down. Sadly, I was in an accident where I was rear-ended by a driver who was distracted by their phone. It happened in a split second and the other driver even said she just looked at her phone for a second. In that second, she did not see that we were stopping for the red light. The other driver did not stop and hit the vehicle I was in at about 35mph. Thankfully no one was hurt but this is just an example of how fast things can change and how driving requires your full attention all the time. If you need to use your phone, just pull off to the side of the road and answer the text or call. After that, safely get back on the road. It is a much safer option for you and others around you. I will definitely take the hands-free driving to heart to help keep the road and myself a better, safer driver. Following all the traffic rules, including following the speed limit. People are always in such a rush, but speeding does not do anything but cause accidents which can cause traffic jams making everybody delayed. I will make sure when I am behind the wheel to get rid of any distractions that may me to look away from the road. The last thing that I would want to do is get in an accident that could seriously hurt me or the others around me. Whatever the distraction maybe it is not worth your or someone else life. Another one is to give the car in front of me enough space, even when I think that it is enough, I am going to give a little bit more. I just feel that there is no reason to be so close to another person’s car, especially if you are traveling at a high rate of speed. The person in front of you could hit the brake and you might not have enough time to stop. That is why it is important to give more than you think in following distance. One thing to remember when you are on the road is to be kind, be patient, and follow the rules of the road. We are not in a race, and everyone has the same goal at the end of the day, make it home safely to be with your family.