Spring Break
Calling all drivers
Samantha Hughes
Issue date: 6/24/09 Section: Opinion
Dear Greenville Drivers:
There is this really neat little lever on the left side of your steering wheel. Push it up or down and it produces something appropriately titled as a "turn signal."
It functions to let other drivers know when you are preparing to change lanes or make a turn.
Is everyone with me? I'm not sure. It came to my attention the other day, as I saw yet another driver narrowly miss an accident on Greenville Boulevard, that most of us are inadequately prepared to be on the roads. Most North Carolina drivers had to go through the same process to get a license: drivers' education, get a permit then graduate to an actual license. It begs the question of why there are so many terrible drivers on the roads. In North Carolina, one teenager is killed every three days in an automobile accident. This statistic is a little startling.
When I started researching this article, I planned on making playful digs at common mistakes and pondering the issue of how effective drivers' education is. I used to feel like it didn't prepare its students properly for the more practical or complicated aspects of driving, but now I feel like it does a terrible job at preparing teens for the road in general. When I was 16, I got into a car accident that was mostly my fault.
I misjudged the distance between myself and another bad driver further up the road. As soon as I started pulling through a neighborhood intersection, they hit me on the passenger's side and effectively totaled my car.
It was one of those terrifying "how do I tell my mother" moments. It was also terrifying when the cops showed up and I had no idea what my registration card looked like. My teachers never told me, and my mother always made sure it was in my glove compartment, so it was a mystery to me.
I was ill equipped to handle the situation.
I have recently discovered that I am still ill equipped to handle many car related situations. The DMV in North Carolina planned the drivers' education classes in a time when complex traffic and highway patterns were not as popular as they are now. Therefore, they are not teaching their audience all the information needed to be safe and effective drivers.
There is this really neat little lever on the left side of your steering wheel. Push it up or down and it produces something appropriately titled as a "turn signal."
It functions to let other drivers know when you are preparing to change lanes or make a turn.
Is everyone with me? I'm not sure. It came to my attention the other day, as I saw yet another driver narrowly miss an accident on Greenville Boulevard, that most of us are inadequately prepared to be on the roads. Most North Carolina drivers had to go through the same process to get a license: drivers' education, get a permit then graduate to an actual license. It begs the question of why there are so many terrible drivers on the roads. In North Carolina, one teenager is killed every three days in an automobile accident. This statistic is a little startling.
When I started researching this article, I planned on making playful digs at common mistakes and pondering the issue of how effective drivers' education is. I used to feel like it didn't prepare its students properly for the more practical or complicated aspects of driving, but now I feel like it does a terrible job at preparing teens for the road in general. When I was 16, I got into a car accident that was mostly my fault.
I misjudged the distance between myself and another bad driver further up the road. As soon as I started pulling through a neighborhood intersection, they hit me on the passenger's side and effectively totaled my car.
It was one of those terrifying "how do I tell my mother" moments. It was also terrifying when the cops showed up and I had no idea what my registration card looked like. My teachers never told me, and my mother always made sure it was in my glove compartment, so it was a mystery to me.
I was ill equipped to handle the situation.
I have recently discovered that I am still ill equipped to handle many car related situations. The DMV in North Carolina planned the drivers' education classes in a time when complex traffic and highway patterns were not as popular as they are now. Therefore, they are not teaching their audience all the information needed to be safe and effective drivers.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 8
really really!!??
posted 6/24/09 @ 2:02 AM EST
Ok this is getting a little ridiculous TEC!? You are actually letting your writers just blather on for a column? First off if you have been in 4 accidents you are just a bad driver and it's not NC's fault. (Continued…)
Marie
posted 6/24/09 @ 9:24 AM EST
I was born and raised in NY, therefore, I took the subway or a bus to travel. I didn't drive too often until I moved to NC and promptly learned to drive defensively and cautiously. (Continued…)
Paul
posted 6/24/09 @ 11:27 AM EST
we found good instruction, actual on the road online at
www.teenlivedrive.com
agree to disagree
posted 6/29/09 @ 1:25 PM EST
I understand what this writer is getting at, but honestly... four accidents? I think your driving is inadequate for the road, or you just run into the worst drivers all the time. (Continued…)
kelly
posted 8/08/09 @ 1:49 PM EST
We just returned from a wonderful trip in South Carolina. We had to drive through North Carolina and let me tell you they have the worst drivers ever. (Continued…)
Hmm
posted 8/20/09 @ 12:27 AM EST
Some tips for Greenville drivers ...
It is not necessary to come to a complete stop before turning into a business from the street. It's not necessary to slow down to the point where you might as well be stopped either. (Continued…)
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