In
the Driver’s Seat
I
want to begin by saying, that
for someone who has been driving now for 3 months with a recently
issued permit, I stand by what I have always felt while I sat on the
passenger seat : Driving is a privilege and
a tremendous responsibility given to us by the state DPS
and our parent/s. Unfortunately, many young drivers do not see it
that way and end up in collisions, some proving to be fatal.

Driving
is a combination of knowledge, skill and attitude- and
requires all three at any given time. It is also a job that requires
complex multitasking- motor coordination that is driven by input from
the brain. Hence, no other task or distractions are needed when one
is driving. Cell phones, food, drinks, and personal grooming are some
of the common distractions that must be avoided. In addition, to
ensure the safety of not just ourselves, but all those in our
immediate driving circle- the following things are imperative- 1)
strict adherence to traffic rules and posted speed limits, 2)buckling
up before ignition and ensuring we have adequate time to get to our
destination, 3) always driving sober and helping out when somebody
you know is incapacitated and 4) driving a functional and safe
vehicle.
Drivers
Education programs play an
important role in creating responsible and confident drivers. Most
statistics show that because of driving schools and Driver’s-Ed
programs, there was almost a 15K drop in fatalities on US roads
between 2005 and 2017 (Nhtsa; Wiki). I learnt about these facts and
other very valuable information myself- when I joined the program to
get my 40+ hours online. The program taught me the basic traffic
signs and rules, safety imperatives for city and highway driving and
several basic rules of defensive driving. My excitement knew no
bounds when I got my permit and dad had me enrolled at a driving
school.
It
was during one such driving class, that I witnessed the
horrifying consequences of not buckling up. We drove in a Honda civic
with the driving school logo on it. I, another student driver and our
instructor, had just driven past a busy intersection during rush
hour. Everything seemed peaceful until suddenly we heard cars ahead
of us come to a screeching halt and the sound of shattering glass.
Our instructor asked us to sit tight while he went to see what had
happened. He returned several minutes later and explained how he and
others at the crash site- had helped with Cpr, and called 911. We
learnt that tail-gating was the reason of the crash and that one of
the drivers who did not have seat belts on- was badly hurt. Soon the
cops and ER vehicles were at the site and almost an hour later, we
were able to get past the crash site. I
learnt that day, that responsible-driving is a civic responsibility.