Name: Sidnee Aebyta
From: Tempe, Arizona
Votes: 0
When
you get your license, it is a huge step towards independence.
However, it is also a huge responsibility that approximately 222
million people take on in the US alone. A car can be a means of
freedom, however, it is also a weapon; intentional or not. Properly
educating drivers is a huge step in reducing fatalities. A properly
educated driver would know how to operate their vehicle in
emergencies and follow through with defensive driving skills.
However, to reduce fatalities, we need to do more than educate.
Citizens need to understand the consequences of unsafe practices, as
well as have laws in place to help reduce distractions. In Arizona,
there is not a statewide law against the use of hand-held cellphones.
This is a huge problem, and every state should start making steps to
improving driving laws. This includes all types of distractions, ie;
mobile devices, drinking, drugs, etc. I personally have been in an
accident before. Thankfully, no one was hurt and damage was minimal.
It was not due to distractions, however, there were things I could
have done to help prevent it. Had I given the person in front of me
more room, I would not have rear ended him during rush hour. I have
learned and grown from this experience, in recognizing that I am
operating a weapon, and need to be taking it seriously. I can
personally improve my driving by continuously practicing defensive
driving. No text, tweet, or call is worth a person’s life. Not one
sip of alcohol or one hit from a joint is worth a life. Every person
needs to understand the responsibilities they take on when getting a
license.
