Thinking Smart

Driver education is essential in society. Without the help of this hands-on course, many are left without practical knowledge of the road and the dangers it can bear. Drivers ed is a way of creating real world scenarios in the safety of the classroom. Many education booklets give one the knowledge he/she needs to know for the real world, but applying that knowledge is difficult when one is first learning. Taking the hands-on course can give a driver the education and skills he needs to drive safely and to prevent disasters (such as death) from occurring, but there are other preventive measures as well.

One way we can reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to stiffen penalties on drinking and driving. Too many people are abusing alcohol and are putting others in danger because of their ignorance. Another proposal to solving this problem would be to find new ways to promote the abstinence of alcohol and make it popular in our culture to not drink while driving, as well as make it popular to drive safely with no distractions.

While I have never been in an accident myself, I have had friends who have been in them. One friend very dear to me died because of an accident. His mother was driving him and his sister home from school, and as they were pulling into their driveway, a truck from behind rear-ended them going sixty miles an hour, because the driver was distracted on his phone. My friend was sitting in the back seat with his seatbelt on, innocently waiting to go home to the rest of his family. His mother and sister had their seatbelts on as well, following the rules of the road. They were not killed, nor was the other driver, but he now has to live with the truth that his failure to drive without distraction, has killed a little boy and devastated a family that did no wrong.

There are many ways in which I can become a better driver, as well as help others to abide by the laws. One way I can become a safer driver is to never get on my phone while I am behind the wheel and moving. If someone wants to text me or call me, I can pull over and talk to that person while my vehicle is completely stopped. I can help others follow this rule as well by asking if I can text or call the person they are wanting to talk to while they drive. I can also have my passenger select the music and adjust the heating and air for me as I drive, and I can do this for others also.

Driving is a privilege that one should never abuse, because when he/she does, it puts everyone around him/her in danger too. Be safe. Take the right steps to ensure your safety as well as those around you. Be a positive influence.