Since getting my permit over the summer, I have been practicing my driving with my parents at a steady pace in preparation for receiving my license. While driving can be fun once you get used to it, it can also be quite nerve-wracking despite the months of progress along the way. Driving can be dangerous, which is why it’s necessary to take the steps towards safety and efficiency.
First and foremost, a step closer to safety on the road includes warm-up drives in the neighborhood. These drives help ease my nerves and help me practice turning, backing up, and other basic driving techniques. They’re a good source of hours as well as practice before going out onto the road. There is less of a risk of collision or other unfortunate accidents while in the neighborhood, which is why it’s my number one recommendation for those like me who want to master their driving skills as early as possible. While neighborhood drives aren’t always necessary, they’re great for beginners such as myself.
Next, practicing in emptier spaces before testing them out for real is another efficient way to practice safety. For example, parking is considered by many to be the hardest part of driving. Instead of going out to the grocery store and parking right at the moment (which can result in a collision), it’s better to find an empty parking lot to improve those skills. If it’s empty, chances of injury, collision, or any kind of problem are greatly reduced. The driver will feel comfortable and at ease with their surroundings. Empty roads can also be a good source of practice, allowing beginner drivers to test the skills that are necessary for all drivers to learn and master as they go on the road. Empty parking lots are the best option and not only are they for parking but also for turning, braking, steering, etc. To ensure safety, practice is key, and that practice stems from a safe and empty lot. I can definitely confirm this from personal experience, my parents have started to take me to empty parking lots to help practice parking with me, I have a friend who’s been practicing driving through an empty lot, and my brother practiced parking in a lot–which helped him pass his driver’s test and earn his license. Empty lots are the way to go!
Onward, another step to achieve safety and maximize driving skills includes, of course, keeping your phone at bay. Texting and driving is a real danger that many, for some odd reason, choose to ignore. Many teens nowadays, including myself, are very much addicted to their smartphones. This creates a larger problem when they can’t seem to put it down while driving. I believe that in the front seat, phones should only be handled while the car is parked, not stopped at a traffic light, but in a lot where the driver is at a safe spot to handle their business. A simple “I’m driving now, I’ll talk to you later” can work wonders in a scenario like this. Keeping your phone off helps keep you and others safe, and I personally keep my phone face down on the charging spot as I drive, ensuring that I won’t get distracted and that my eyes will remain on the road at all times. Also, many newer cars have screens where calls can be answered, initiated by Siri, and text messages can pop up so that drivers won’t remain out of the loop but will be able to know who’s talking to them and that they can answer and chat away while still keeping both hands on the wheel.
In conclusion, ensuring driver safety comes in many forms but some of my favorites include neighborhood drives, practicing in empty lots, and staying off of your smartphone while on the road. As more and more teens become acquainted with this valuable life skill and join the road alongside older and experienced drivers, it’s important to take all of the steps necessary to perfect your skills and use this asset in life to have fun and put yourself at a big advantage in our on-the-road society. I still get nervous from time to time while driving, or at least while preparing to, but using these skills I have managed to improve my skills and show just how dedicated I am to keeping myself and others safe. I think that if I continue using these skills, it’ll be a quicker and easier process to obtain my license as I keep logging in hours and finish Segment 2.