Madison Brumbaugh

Not just from A to B

Drivers ed is
one of the most important factors when looking to reducing the number
of deaths resulting from driving. With more education and continuous
education through one's life we can have people follow more traffic
laws and driving safer. If we had a society that did not have
required drivers ed and were self-taught, I think there
would be a much higher death rate when it comes to driving.


I think a majority
of deaths related to driving are either due to distractions or
intoxications. The numbers of deaths may have gone down due to
improved car safety, but accidents are still high due to cell phone
use while driving and driving with intoxicated. One step is to teach
teens the consequences of driving distracted or intoxicated. With
more education on stats and how realistic driving distracted or
intoxicated I think we can reduce the amount of deaths and accidents.

Experiencing a car
accident is traumatic. At 18 I was in an accident on the freeway
which totaled my car. While I was on my way to work on a slightly
drizzly day, I lost control of the wheel and slammed into a guard
rail. One of my tires was flat and with the slickness of the road it
created the perfect conditions for an accident. While I was educated
and had been driving for two years already, there was nothing to stop
this freak occurrence. Thankfully no others were involved, and I
walked away unscathed. But due to that accident I am cautious of my
vehicle and the weather conditions when driving. I have then learned
how to drive in the snow and other slick conditions. It is hard to be
educated on how to drive in various weather conditions due to the
short amount of time required to gain your learner's permit.


Steps that I have taken in the past to become a better and safer
driver is to slow down in adverse weather conditions and especially
around corners when it is slick out. I think everyone should learn
how-to drive-in snow, sleet, hail, rain, rain after long periods of
heat, and what to do when you are hydroplaning. We learn a little bit
about these experiences in Drivers ed, but I think real life
practice is a must.