The Crucial Role of Driver Education in Road Safety

Recently, a shocking car accident happened near Toronto. Four 15 to17 year old Chinese international students and a 42-year-old lady were killed in a severe car accident on Highway 60 on November 25th. In today’s fast-paced world, mobility is essential, and most people drive their cars. With that many vehicles on the road, the importance of road safety cannot be overstated. Therefore, one key way to contribute to ensuring safety on our roads is by taking driver education. 

Driver education provides individuals the fundamental knowledge and skills to operate a vehicle safely. Understanding traffic laws, road signs, and mastering emergency driving techniques helps drivers identify and prevent potential hazards on complex roads. A well-educated driver is better prepared to identify and respond to dangerous situations, such as bad weather conditions or aggressive drivers. Besides that, driver education also fosters a sense of responsibility among drivers. Respecting traffic rules, following the speed limits, and considering other road users are essential to driving behavior. With proper driving education, drivers can gain those positive driving attributes. 

Driver education is a comprehensive approach to reducing the number of fatalities resulting from driving incidents. Equipping individuals with knowledge, skills, and a responsible attitude can significantly reduce incidents resulting from driving. However, there are more steps to eliminate driving accidents, which require more than individual efforts.

One action we can take is the strict enforcement of the speed limit. Most cars in Canada drive over the speed limit because it seems reasonable due to the lack of cars on the road. However, going below the speed limit gives drivers more reaction time to emergencies. For example, in a school area, the speed limit is 40 km/h, set to prevent children from running on the street and being hit by cars. If drivers go beyond that speed limit, they might not have enough reaction time, or the car is at a speed that it could not stop in time, tragedy will occur. Driving under the speed limit is essential, and there should be no excuse for speeding.

Knowing the importance of following the speed limit, how can we ensure most people follow it? While most drivers speed, there are times when everyone strictly follows the speed limit; drivers slow down when there is a traffic police or camera nearby. Drivers fear receiving a speeding fine because they either have to pay the bill or fight in court, which is a lot of trouble. Therefore, it is crucial to set up cameras in critical zones, such as school zones, to restrict drivers from speeding. 

I remember one time I was sitting in one of my friend’s cars, and he was driving me to a sushi place. He is a great person, and I often play video games and badminton with him, but he is not the most responsible driver I have seen. My friend fits the exact criteria of an aggressive driver, driving way over the speed limit and constantly changing lanes to pass other cars. At a speed limit of 80 km/h, I watch him drive at 120 km/h, going over by a solid 40km/h and making a lane change and changing back to pass a car that is not much slower than him. In the end, we did get there a lot earlier than we expected, but as the passenger, I would want to avoid being driven again. During the journey, I didn’t feel relaxed and safe like usual. Instead, the wobbly car stressed me about a possible rollover, and the wind blowing through me made me question if my friend could react to stop if an accident happened. 

What concerns me more is that, according to his words. At night time, when there is no car on the way, he will drive around 200 km/h, and he can only go that fast because it is the car’s limit. We both knew that anything out of the ordinary, such as a tire slip, would likely result in his death, but he didn’t seem to care. “It’s fine. I drive way slower when other people are in my car. I only start drag racing when driving alone.” He told me not to worry when I tried to convince him to drive slower. However, driving at such a high speed disrespects his and other drivers’ safety, but he is very persistent in his driving habits. Even so, I would not give up on him because I do not want to see him be the next victim of a car accident. At the same time, I promised myself not to be a driver like him because driving with patience is essential. I want to be a safe driver who allows my passengers to feel safe sitting in my car, and I also want to make a positive impact on others with good driving habits.

Training with proper driving education is the key to making myself a better and safer driver. A qualified driver must obey traffic laws, know what to do in an emergency, and regulate and avoid distraction. At the same time, I will use my driving knowledge to positively impact others’ driving habits. Point out their mistakes on the road and stop them from accidents.

As the number of vehicles on the road continues to rise, prioritizing road safety through driver education is crucial. This education equips individuals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for safe driving. However, stricter enforcement of speed limits, such as setting up cameras in school zones, needs to be implemented to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. By combining continuous learning through proper driving education and stricter rules, we can collectively make our roads safer for everyone.