“Step
by Step, Drive by Drive”

As
a teen learning to drive is an exciting time but in the back of your
mind it is something that is very scary and stressful. You hear so
many things in the news about accidents that put people into life
threatening and life changing situations which can mess with your
confidence to get behind the wheel. There are ways to get around this
feeling and that is through a deep dive into drivers ed. The
more educated you are on rules and scenarios that can take place
while driving the more of an ability you have to keep and others on
the road safe.

The
first step to safe driving is practice, and the perfect time for that
is when you have your permit because you have to have an adult with
you. This allows you to learn from mistakes and ask questions before
your on the road by yourself. This form of education is critical
because it teaches you the rules of the road with real time practice
and scenarios that you could face once getting a license.
The
second step is to become familiar with your car because the more
comfortable you are with the size of your car, the way it drives, and
its features the more successful you can be while driving. I have
learned that the familiarity with your car means a lot. My first car
was a small 1999 Honda C-RV that was easy to drive but was slow and
had a few hitches that I had to get used so that I felt safe when
driving. Then I transitioned to 2019 Ford Ranger which is huge in
comparison and before I drove on the busiest streets in town I drove
around the local area to get familiar with the vehicle. Familiarity
is a major part to driving.

Step
3 is to reduce distractions when driving; I have always put my phone
on do not disturb and left it in my backpack or sports bag in the
back seat so it was out of sight and out of mind when driving and not
blasting the radio so you can truly focus on the road. I was also the
first of my friends to get my license and I never let them in my car
until the year was up and I felt comfortable and when they are in my
car I always make sure that everyone is buckled and the music set
before if take the car out of park. I try to be a role model and be a
safe driver on the road because those habits can rub off on others.
I
know there are things I can get better at when driving and that will
just take practice. Right I drive as safe as possible and leave early
so I have plenty of time to spare when driving to my next
destination. I hope to see you on the road someday and drive safe.