In the Diver's Seat

Sydney Phair

“In the Driver’s Seat”

Driver education programs should be taken by everyone who is getting their driver's license. This program teaches student drivers to be aware of many distractions while driving, watching for other driver's mistakes to avoid accidents, and to help the driver learn safety for him/herself and other people. Drivers ed programs also provide many helpful tips for students. At least “34,000 people die each year” due to careless driving. There are steps that can be taken to reduce those numbers; Many people turn off their cell phone while driving or they will pull over to the side of the road to answer a phone call or text, place the cell phone out of reach so you are not tempted to send that text or answer the phone call, looking more than once pulling onto another road, waiting a few more seconds at four-way stops and at traffic lights, install a radio that has a hands free system in it for your cellular device, or take a driver's education class. I was in a car accident when I was six years old, my grandmother was driving, and my little brother and I were in the back seat of the car. My grandmother was pulling out of our dirt road on to the highway and it’s on a blind curve. When she pulled on to the highway the other car was driving over the speed limit and hit the left rear side of my grandmother's car and pushed her car into the ditch, thankfully we were all okay.

Steps that I can take to be a better driver could be paying close attention to others at four-way stops and keeping my cell phone on silent. A way I can help friends and family be better drivers is to help them watch for other drivers and help them look in their blind spot in the vehicle to avoid collisions. All of these things are very important because all it takes is one mistake to take yours or another person’s life.