I remember when I started taking drivers ed classes and how scared I was to be driving on the road as an unexperienced driver. I also remember how I never took drivers ed classes seriously until my teacher started telling the whole class horror stories about young drivers getting into accidents and driving recklessly. I immediately started taking these classes more seriously after I found out what many families must go through after losing their child, mother, father, or best friend in a car accident. When I think about the importance of driver training and reducing the number of deaths, I think about how teenagers are learning about dangerous driving, effects of reckless driving, and learning about skills that promote safe driving practices. Some of the safe driving skills that many teens need to remember are using a seat belt, avoid touching or using your phone while driving, driving within the speed limit, and being mindful of all the other drivers on the road.
There are many rules or steps that people should follow to reduce the number of deaths involved with driving. Some of these rules are following traffic laws, maintaining the speed limit, to not drink and drive, and avoiding driving while tired. Now these seem like very easy and simple rules to remember while driving, but the number of people who purposely break these rules is quite shocking. I think people should think twice before driving if they know for a fact that they are going to break the rules, because it could save someone’s life. There are many more steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths involved with driving, but I believe these are some of the important and most common ones to be taken advantage of.
I personally have never been involved in a car accident, which I am very grateful for, but my older sister, Alexis, does sometimes drive irresponsibly. She drives irresponsibly by using her phone while driving, driving over the speed limit, and passing other people in unsafe areas. I have talked to her about the way she drives and how dangerous it can be, but she denies that she drives like that. I am not the only person who has confronted her about the way she drives, some of her friends and our mother have also talked to her about the dangers. My mother, Tonia, has been involved in a car accident but she did not want to talk to me or give me any information about it, which makes me think it deeply impacted her life and the way she drives on the road.
What steps can I take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road? I found this a difficult question to answer because I like to think I am a good driver because I have never been involved in an accident. If I had to give myself advice about being a better driver, I would tell myself you do not have to always go over the speed limit when someone is tailgating you, and to stay off my phone while driving because that text can wait a minute. Some steps or advice I would give to other drivers to continue being safe is following at a safe distance, avoid being on or touching your phone, always wear a seat belt, and obey the traffic signals. These are some of the important steps to take while driving to keep you and anyone else on the road safe.
Overall, I think many young teens who are in or are about to start drivers ed should take it seriously because driving recklessly and taking someone else's life is something that can haunt you for a long time. It bothers me when new young drivers refuse to follow these rules of driving just so they can look cool in front of their friends, this happens a lot with high school students who just got their license. 2 minutes. It only takes 2 minutes for you to put your seatbelt on and to put your phone on silent to make sure you and everyone else on the road are safe. Please, you are not the only person on the road. Put your phone away and follow the rules of driving to protect yourself and everyone else because you do not want to be the person responsible for an accident that can cost someone their life.