Better Safe than Sorry

Gomez 3

Better Safe than Sorry

Excitement, freedom, and happiness are just a few of the emotions teens feel after walking out of the DMV as a new driver! We dream of driving from the time we are little. Finally, we don’t have to walk everywhere. It is a symbol of freedom and growing up. However, as great as that all sounds, driving can be one of the most dangerous activities we engage in daily.

“The purpose of drivers ed is to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and as a pedestrian” according to DriversEd.com. At the age of 15-16 you are eligible to take drivers ed. Most students that take this class are very young. They are mainly 8th graders, freshman, or sophomores that are impatiently waiting to drive. At this point, most students are more concerned about being able to drive rather than the safety aspects. Drivers ed. explains the evidence on safety while sitting behind the wheel. Young drivers are inexperienced and have little to no idea what to do if an accident were to occur. For example, we are approaching winter and most new drivers will be experiencing ice on the road for the first time. Most of them will overcorrect because of lack of experience, causing their vehicle to slide even more or flip. Instead, they should avoid slamming on the breaks, steer into the skid, and not crank the steering wheel in the opposite direction. Drivers ed covers multiple ways to be safe and what choices need to be made before getting behind the wheel.

There are multiple ways we can minimize the risk of accidents and fatalities that revolve around driving. Almost every risk can be minimized by choices. First of all, we need to recognize that a car can be a lethal weapon every time we are behind the wheel. Therefore, choices are crucial before and after we get into a vehicle. For example, one of the highest causes of fatalities is due to intoxicated driving. “Drunk driving has claimed the lives of almost 11,000 people” according to National Highway Traffic. In high school, many teens will make the choice to go to a party, hangout with that friend, try drinking for the first time, etc. Nobody sits down and thinks “if I get in this car, it might be my last day on earth.” Most people are just trying to fit into the popular crowd, making the poor choice of doing anything for attention. Imagine going to a party and having a great night with your friends without a care in the world. A few friends pressure you into taking a couple sips of alcohol. Later on, you decide it is time to go home. You get in the driver's seat and take off. You are on a turn and cannot judge the curve accurately. Before you realize it, you overcorrect and flip your vehicle. The next thing your family hears, is your name on the news being pronounced dead due to drinking and driving. Your family is torn apart. It was just supposed to be a fun night, how could this have happened? This all could have been avoided if you would have made the choice to not get behind the wheel. Again, making the right choice and thinking it through before you get in a vehicle. Another step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, is to make the choice to not use your phone once in your car. In the one second that you make the choice to look at your phone, it may be too late to avoid a crash. A phone call, a snapchat, a text message can all wait. If victims of fatal car crashes could give advice, they would say to choose safety over your phone.

I have personally never been in a car accident. However, I live in an extremely small town which means everyone knows everyone. Well, one morning I was sitting on my mom’s bed and as she flipped on the news, I saw a very familiar face. Before I knew it, my mom was sobbing trying to explain to me what happened. It was the summer of a 16 year old cheerleader from our high school. She was about to enter her junior year. Unfortunately, she never got that chance. As she failed to stop at a stop sign, a truck hit her. She was pronounced dead at the scene along with her two passengers. Her family was devastated along with the shock that rang through our entire community. As a new driver, I believe more experience and less distractions in the vehicle may have prevented this accident.

I can take many steps to become a better driver, as well as helping others to become safer on the road. Knowing the right choices to make as a driver, can save my life as well as others. For instance, I will always keep my hands on the recommended positions, I will be a defensive driver, and I will leave all distractions behind me when I get into the car. Finally, I will continue to practice. I have had my license for two years now. I am still willing to learn and improve my driving when given the chance. If someone calls me out for texting and driving or speeding, I will fix my mistake immediately and not let it happen again. The majority of people when given advice will answer with the “I know” attitude, but expanding your knowledge and taking advice is one of the best qualities to have. I can also help others to become a safer driver. If I see my friends demonstrating bad driving habits, I will approach them with what I am observing about their driving. In this situation, sugar coating will not make it clear enough. I will remind them what we learned in drivers ed and the importance of it. Furthermore, I will explain to them how dangerous it is and continue to give scenarios on the possibilities of distracted driving. Better safe than sorry.