Save Driving

I believe there is significant importance in the role of drivers education as it relates to deaths as a result of driving. In my own experience with drivers education classes the instructor spent a good portion of time on accidents and death related accidents. He discussed different cases, showed pictures and even interviews from families of victims. My class learned that there are many factors that contribute to accidents where death may result. Those factors include; drunk driving or drunk drivers, texting while driving, speeding, not wearing a seat belt and weather. As teenagers we have a mentality that nothing will happen to me. We believe that we know what we are doing behind the wheel and that as long as we are in control of our vehicle than we will be ok. That is not always the case. There is always the need to be aware of the drivers around you. These are not factors that I personally had thought much about before drivers education. In my case, seeing pictures and videos of accidents had a significant impact on me. It is one thing to talk about but to see is another. The videos of families talking about their family members who have died really impacted me as well. These types of pictures and videos and spending time on the many ways that death related accidents can happen absolutely need to be part of every drivers education class so that us teens are educated on all the dangers that are out there on the road.

I believe there are several ways in which we can reduce the numbers of deaths related to driving. One of those ways is to have more police patrols on the roads. More traffic stops fro speeding, aggressive driving and drunk driving can help to discourage people from driving in unsafe ways. I also think that tougher penalties will decrease the amount of repeat offenders. Another way could be re education at a certain time. For instance, after having your license for say 15 years you need to take a refresher course and test on road safety and laws.

I have had the unfortunate situation of being in a car accident. I had had my license for 6 months and was starting to feel comfortable on the road. On my 17th birthday I was driving home and was less than a mile from my home when a woman ran a red light at a high rate of speed hitting my drivers side rear door and spinning me sending me over a medium and into another car on the wrong side of the road. It was one of the scariest times in my life. I had no idea what to do. I was crying and had pain in my shoulder. Several witnesses came over to talk to me and try to keep me calm while we waited for the police and rescue to arrive. My mother was able to make it there within minutes. In the end my car ended up being totaled and my shoulder dislocated. I am thankful that I was wearing my seat belt, as I always do, and that my Kia Sportage was able to keep me safe. What I found frustrating about the situation was that the woman did not receive a ticket for running a red light. The second car I hit also ended up totaled but he luckily had no injuries. I believe, as well as the police, that she was trying to beat the light and that is why she was going so fast. This was also verified by witnesses. I believe giving people tickets for what they did wrong to cause an accident is an absolute must to drill home to them the seriousness of what their driving caused.

This accident taught me to always hesitate at red lights and stop signs before proceeding. I am always watching upcoming traffic lights and never speed up to beat a red light. I tell my friends my story so they will also be more cautious at intersections. Another way I help others is by giving tips to my friends who have not gotten their license yet. I will explain a situation I was in and if I was nervous and how I handled it. That way if they ever find themselves in that situation they will know what to do.