Driver
Education


According to DmvEdu.org, “In America, an average of 34,000 people
die each year as a result of driving.” Driving is more dangerous
than you think. People who have driven for several years or only
months have experienced a car crash. No one is guaranteed safety. To
reduce the amount of deaths from dangerous driving, people should
always be aware of their surroundings, put their phone down, and
drive defensively.

Being aware of
your surroundings is one of the most important things to do while
driving. In my own experience, I have seen a teenage driver in a car
wreck from not being aware of oncoming traffic. He was on a major
highway and hit the driver’s side of a vehicle and crunched his car
and instantly passed away. From seeing that car wreck, it really
opened my eyes to the danger of not being aware of my surroundings.
Always keep your eyes on the road, music down, and always be prepared
for the unexpected.

One of the most
distracting things that keep teens and adults from watching the road
are cell phones. According to the National Safety Council, “Nearly
390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting
while driving.” Texting while driving glues your eyes to your phone
and makes you unaware of changes in traffic. Not only could you be
injured or killed, but you could also cause injury or death to
someone else and be responsible because a simple text was a
distraction. Silence your phone before leaving your location. Stay
off your phone. Someone else's life is not worth a text message.

Driving
defensively is very important when it comes to safe driving.
According to DriversEd.com, “It is a set of driving skills that
allow you to defend yourself against possible collisions caused by
bad drivers, drunk drivers, and poor weather.” Driving defensively
ties together with always being aware of your surroundings. Bad
drivers and drunk drivers are always on the road. Expect other
drivers to make mistakes, so if something unexpected happens, you are
ready to defend yourself and get out of harm's way. Not every driver
follows the rules. Do not speed, do not drive erratically, and be
cautious of bad weather. Always be aware of your surroundings.
Every upcoming
driver should take a driver’s safety course. Driver’s safety
courses allow people to learn how to be safe and defensive drivers.
Being educated on driver safety could not only save your life, but
someone else's. It is important that you share your knowledge of safe
driving with people who are not educated. Doing this could help
reduce the numbers of deaths from uneducated drivers in the United
States.