Last year, my
father and I were as in car accident where the person who hit us
wasn’t paying attention to lane markings and surrounding cars. They
made a split-second decision to try to enter the freeway after the
lane markings became solid white, signifying that crossing those
lines would be dangerous. They quickly swerved, hoping to make it
onto the freeway, yet ended up hitting the rear of our car and nearly
spinning us off the road. Had this person been aware of the lane
markings and aware that our car was in the way, the accident could
have been avoided.

Paying attention
and not being arrogant or brash while driving would help eliminate
countless driving-related deaths. One thing that would really help to
promote attentiveness while driving would be to take measures to
eliminate distractions. Making sure that any passengers in the car
understand not to distract the driver and silencing cell phones would
make a large difference. Also, making sure that the area around the
driver isn’t too cluttered would be very beneficial for safety: if
the driver has to look down or even pick something up off the floor
while driving, their attention is off the road, and even a second’s
worth of attention elsewhere can be fatal.


Other than trying to eliminate distractions, it is up to the driver
to focus on the area around them and to make sure that they are
avoiding hazards. It is also very helpful if the driver makes sure
that they have plenty of time to arrive at their destination, because
driving while under the pressure of time causes stress and anxiety,
which can cause people to focus more on rushing than the area around
them.

This is why
Drivers ed is so important; it makes the importance of being
aware of one’s surroundings clear to new drivers right from the
start. Building the foundation for new drivers off of being aware
helps to introduce safer new drivers onto our streets. If new drivers
are aware of the risks and dangers of driving, then they understand
the importance of driving safely.

Drivers ed
not only makes new drivers understand the importance of safety; it
also explains various safe-driving practices which are essential to
learn. By helping new drivers learn and form these safe-driving
habits before actually reaching for the wheel, it is more likely that
new drivers will be informed enough to drive wisely and safely in
practice. After taking drivers ed myself, I feel more prepared
and more informed about the need for awareness while driving. I
understand why my parents are cautious about their driving and why
they take so many precautions to minimize distractions. I now know
how imperative it is to constantly look around and pay attention to
signs and warnings in the area. All of this information which I
received through drivers ed helped me to understand how to be a
safer driver—education is the key which unlocks the door to safer
roadways.