The Right of the Road

Tuttle 3

Cloey Tuttle

Scholarship

12 November 2019

The Right of the Road

When people are immersed in drivers ed, they are less likely to cause accidents on the road. Drivers ed also helps people enhance their skills and knowledge so they can possess all the necessary safety habits when operating a vehicle. A study done by AAA Foundations shows that “driver education is associated with a lower incidence of both crashes and convictions – reducing crashes by 4.3% and convictions by nearly 40%” (Kass). No matter how safe one thinks they are being on the road, everyone should always participate in a drivers ed course in order to fully understand all the rules of the road.

There are many different steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. For instance, everyone should steer away from driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. People who drive intoxicated have a slow reaction time, have decreased vision, and have less concentration. This makes inebriated people more prone to getting into life-threatening accidents. Furthermore, people should always have safety as their main priority when they are behind the wheel. This will help ensure not only the passengers’ safety but also the pedestrians around them. For example, the ability to make predictions is very important when driving. Car accidents can happen in a split second, and if someone is able to take precautions they may be able to save a life… or two.

Although I have never experienced a car accident, I have witnessed my friends and family driving irresponsibly. This can become very dangerous because they are not focused on their surroundings around them, and they can seriously hurt not only themselves but for me as well. Most of the time when my friends and family are driving irresponsibly, they are texting. This can be a serious threat to many people. Typically, I tell them that the majority of the time the response can wait, and if it can’t they can either pull over or I can respond for them. Most of the time, they listen. This keeps all of us safe from being involved in a life-threatening accident.

One step I can take in order to become a safer driver is putting my phone in the backseat or in my purse. A lot of the time I find myself changing the song on my phone, which denies me from fully being engaged in driving. By putting my phone away, I can keep myself and others around me safe. In order to help others be safe on the road, I can educate them on the importance of safe driving. This can help people who need a little refresh if they have not taken a driver education course in a while. Additionally, if I see any of my loved ones on their phones while they are driving, I can kindly remind them that there are other passengers in the car that are at risk of losing their lives due to a silly decision.

Overall, driving safety and learning the right way of the road one can make a large difference in everyone’s lives. By immersing oneself in drivers ed, they can help reduce the risk of driving fatalities.

Work Cited

Kass, Jackie. “Concerned about Teen Driver Safety? Drivers Ed Reduces Crash Risk.” Drive

Smart Georgia, Drive Smart, 10 Oct. 2017, drivesmartgeorgia.com/blog/teen-driver-safety-drivers-ed-reduces-risk/.