Reaching Out

Dreadful. That’s how most peers described Drivers Ed. Sitting for three hours straight after school, when I had been sitting for eight hours already seemed like more torture! Of course this was before I started the courses. I was in fact excited to enter the adult world. My excitement quickly faded after hearing stories of deadly collisions and fatalities. Reality set in and the importance of Driver’s Education became clearer, driving is dangerous, and it was my responsibility to make the best choices possible when behind the wheel.

The more rules and regulations I learned within Drivers Ed, the more I took them out into the real world. My own father, a law enforcement officer, had to tell me to stop bugging him about how many seconds it took to officially stop at a stop sign. Having the information fresh in my mind caused me to be overly cautious about tiny details. Unfortunately, the young and inexperienced drivers on the road are more knowledgeable than experienced drivers. In order to reduce deaths, the knowledge of drivers has to grow. Billboards can be utilized, mandatory online refresher courses, yearly legal updates on traffic infractions, government funding community groups such as Watch for Me NC are all ways to better educate the public. Watch for Me NC provides materials to community groups to educate all members of society on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Several years ago a middle school student walked across a marked crosswalk and was struck by a vehicle, sadly the pedestrian passed away. My Outer Banks community rallied and created various educational outreaches to inform the public on driver safety. New traffic lights have been installed by the Department of Transportation so the sun doesn’t affect visibility. The Outer Banks Bike and Pedestrian Coalition was formed which provides lights, educational materials, and bike rodeo outreaches to the public. Police officers have come into Drivers ed classes to speak and answer questions. There are about 3,300 vehicle deaths per day caused by carelessness. Driving is a privilege, and individuals should treat it as such.

As a high school senior, an older sibling, a volunteer, and a driver, I feel it is my responsibility to be a role model for others. I encourage my peers to take the drivers ed class and not wait until they turn eighteen because it provides a tremendous amount of information. Also, I use various apps so I can’t text and drive. As a runner, I make sure I run on the correct side of the road and wear appropriate clothing so I can be seen. I can’t do it alone, yet I also understand that my effort helps. The more people I reach out to, the more they can reach as well. It takes a village therefore we are all together in this with whichever mode of transportation we use. We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves so we can in turn educate others. This cycle ultimately makes the roads safer for everyone.