At the end of my sophomore year the last possible thing I wanted to do was a drivers ed class. I was overwhelmed by the wait for my school work, and on top of it all, my city was buried under roughly 3 fresh feet of snow, overwhelming the snow plows. The roads were narrower and more slippery than they had been in years. At this point in my driving career I was unconfident, unmotivated and, to be completely honest, terrified I would slide off the road into a snowy ditch. By the time drivers ed came around, I was not ready to spend hours driving in the icy snow. But much to my surprise, my driving instructor recognized my uncertainty and we took to the roads slowly. Over the two weeks I braved the icy roads and learned how to combat sliding on the ice, and what to do if I am headed toward the ditch. Soon after I got my full fledged drivers licenses, I felt confident to go out onto the icy roads. I was confident that I knew what to do in most every situation.
Although I was tentative going into driver's ed, I quickly saw its value. I, along with my friends who also did driver's ed, were becoming confident and informed drivers. We were given the tools we needed to be safe and responsible. Drivers ed is a crucial tool in reducing the number of deaths on the road. Drivers education classes create informed drivers who can practice what they know and become safe drivers. Drivers ed plants safe habits and helps them to grow into a safe lifestyle. Drivers ed was created with the intentions of creating safe, mature, and informed drivers. It is through this that the number of deaths driving can be reduced.
Even though drivers ed does help to reduce the number of deaths caused by driving, there are many more steps that could be taken to create safer roads. In my city, Anchorage Alaska it is illegal to be on your phone while you are driving. This law is especially enforced in school zones. I believe this is a necessary law and helps to prevent many accidents, however it is not enough. “At the top of the list, distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents in the U.S. each year, and though it is a recognized issue, it is becoming increasingly worse”(GJEL). Distracted driving most commonly means cellphone use while driving. In order to help prevent cell phone use while driving I believe that people should be given tools to limit their phone use. For instance, an app or program that shuts down your phone while your car is in motion. The app would prevent texting, as well as other apps from working in the car. I believe that through certain implications preventing cell phone usage in cars, it could reduce the number of deaths related to driving. It would take work, but if people care enough about their life and others, then they will want to make a difference.
When I was in fifth grade my mom was in a bad car accident. She broke her ankle and got a concussion. I don't know how the car crash happened, because I was too young, but I do remember the result it had on my family both relationally and financially. Looking back, I wish there was something I could do to prevent it. Whenever I remember the car accident, I want to drive better, and safer, not for myself but for my family. My parents have invested a lot of money and time into my future. More importantly, they have loved me and cared for me. It would be foolish for me to throw it all away with a bad decision in the driver's seat.
As a licensed driver, there is a lot I can do better. For instance, sometimes my music is too loud, I get distracted by the people I am driving with and I make mistakes. More often than not I don't stop long enough at stop signs, I miss my turns, and I get angry with other drivers. I want to be a better driver, not only for my safety but for the safety of others. The steps I want to take are to practice, leaving my phone in the back seat, turning down my music and planning my route beforehand. I can also talk to my friends about safer driving habits and we can hold each other accountable.
Overall driving is a privilege, not to be taken for granted. I have the tools and the knowledge to make the roads a safer place. All I need to do is take action. Through my actions I can be an example to others, and possibly help save lives.