The
bright lights woke me up from my peaceful nap in the backseat of my
mother’s car. As I went to take off my seatbelt I noticed the glass
from the rear windshield was shattered all over the backseat, and the
lights that woke me were from the police car that had arrived on the
scene of our car accident. This accident happened when I was eight
years old on our way home from Golden Corral when a woman rear-ended
my mom’s car with her black SUV because she was distracted by her
phone while driving. The woman's car barely had a scratch on it, but
my mother’s car was completely totaled. If it wasn’t for the tv
stand that was in the trunk I might not be here right now typing this
essay. Which goes to show how a little distraction can turn into a
life-threatening accident.

In
order to reduce the number of automobile-related deaths, all states
should require future first-time drivers to take a defensive driver
class regardless of their age. In Georgia, we have Joshua’s Law
which is a driving class that all 16-year-olds have to take before
they can get their driver’s license. I learned a lot in that class
and the on the road driving time with the instructor was really
helpful, because they were able to explain simple things like turning
way better than my mother could. I went there with basically no
knowledge and left being able to drive safely on the streets with my
permit. If everyone was required to take a class like that I believe
they would take driving more seriously. By thinking of the
responsibility that’s needed to operate the heavy machinery that is
a car.

Every
new driver should take all of the precautions about driving
seriously, like only driving immediate family members for the first
six months. All the states need to have the hands free driving law.
Once they have the hands free law, it needs to actually be enforced,
because we just got that law passed here in Georgia and you still see
way too many people on their phones while driving. Experienced
drivers need to remember to always drive safely and cautiously
because one distraction can cost the life of yourself or others.
Every car has someone’s baby on board.