Drivers Education

Remember being 15 or 16 years old and taking that rite of passage called "Drivers Education"?
Classwork, textbook, videos, learners permit, being grouped up with 2 other kids and going out and driving together with an instructor.  I remember my instructor; he is the father of a gal with whom I went to church and with whom I graduated high school. 

He would always set a travel cup filled with water on the dash, and if you took a turn too fast or hard, or accelerated too quickly or slammed on the brakes, that cup was going to get tipped over.  This man did not want to get wet, so by golly you made sure you didn't tip over the cup!

I remember the girls with whom I drove.  Once the nerves settled down we had a good time.  I remember when there was some road construction on a divided highway and one of the girls accidentally drove over some orange cones:  thmp!  thmp!  thmp!  thmp!  thmp!  in rapid succession under the car they banged!  What a riot!  If that's all that happened to our car, it was a good day.  And yet, we learned how to drive.

I think people should be required to take the written test and the driving test every time they renew their license.  Yes, I really do.  Have you seen some of these drivers out there?  And I think people who drive for a living should be frequently reviewed by in-cab observers.  Yeah, truck drivers, I'm talking about you.  It is high time that people start regarding and respecting the road rules again.  It is getting out of hand. 

Not knowing who should go first when two vehicles stop at an intersection at the same time.
Disuse of turn signals.
Tail lights, brake lights, head lights out.
Not using headlights in dim conditions.
Not sharing the road with runners/walkers and cyclists.
Running red lights.

Do you have a death wish?  I would wager to say that these are some of the reasons there are so many accidents.  Don't you remember the video they showed us in D.E. of the mangled cars and blood spilled on the ground?  Or do you need a refresher?  How does this one sit with you?

You won't need the whole minute, just from about :05 seconds to :30 seconds will do.  Go ahead.  Watch it.  I'll wait......
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Pretty intense, huh?  Makes you think a little. 

I think we all should ask ourselves the question we see on some commercial trucks:  "How's my driving?"  And be a little more gracious and careful on the road.  It just might save a life.

Lots of us are driving around with precious cargo in the form of our children, so let's remember that. Hands on the wheel; eyes on the road.  Phone hidden away.