Importance of driver education

The importance of driver education helps us understand and take responsibility on the road. It teaches us about how it is important to follow the laws and thow to be safe.

There are several steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. In my opinion, the top one is to wear your seatbelt and make sure that all your passengers have it on as well. In case of an accident, nobody will be ejected from the vehicle and will remain in their seats.Whether the car flips or you slam into something, you will remain in your seat safer than not. Another step that can be taken is to put your cell phone on do not disturb. This will silence your notifications so you don’t feel so tempted to pick your phone up and go on it. People don’t realize how serious texting and driving is. People don’t think that it will happen to them, until it does. It only takes a second. The third step that I can think of is to watch your speed. I’ve seen countless people speed by and then down I end up seeing them pulled over with their emergency lights. That could have easily turned into a car accident. Slowing down could not only prevent an accident for yourself, but the other people driving as well. Sometimes accidents happen in a domino effect, and slowing down could prevent it.

I have been in a car accident before. About a month ago I was driving home from work and there was a massive storm. I was going about 55 miles per hour and a rock fell from the side of the mountain and slammed into my windshield. There was a car behind me and I didn’t want to have them slam into me so my natural instinct was to swerve. I ended up swerving into a 10 foot ditch almost totalling my car. My car had a smashed windshield, smashed roof, torn bumper, a stripped undercarriage, and the passenger side was scraped up. Thankfully, I got out of my car untouched and unharmed. The only thing broken and beat up was my car. If I didn’t have my seatbelt on, I more than likely would’ve gotten hurt. Since this accident, I have learned to be more cautious and safer while driving. It also makes me double check that everyone has their seatbelts on before driving.

Some steps that I could take to be a better and safer driver is to be aware of my surroundings and pay attention. For example, if I would’ve paid more attention to my surroundings the night of the storm, I could’ve figured out that the side of the mountain was all rock, there was a sign about 100 feet ahead that stated “fallen rock” and took it into consideration, that driving 45 miles an hour in a 55 zone would have been okay given the fact that it was storming and windy. This could have all prevented a wreck. Another step that can be taken is to not tailgate. I sometimes find myself driving closer to cars than I should and then I will use my brakes more often than I should. I have never hit someone from the back, but I have seen it happen so many times to other people. Following further from behind is a safer option so it can reduce the number of accidents. The third one that I think is important is to always use your signals, even if there is nobody around. Using your signals can avoid accidents big time, especially on a highway or freeway. Letting the cars around you know what lane you are going into is very important so it can avoid a side swipe. Also using your emergency signals when you are pulled over on the side if the road is vital, so people know someone is in the car and not just parked. It gives more caution so people can also move to the opposite side of the road. For example, if you had a flat tire and you didn’t have your emergency lights on, it doesn’t give drivers a heads up that someone is pulled over and still in or around their vehicle. For the most part, when people are pulled over with their emergency lights on, people will get into the other lane to give space. If someone was working on your tire, and your emergency lights were turned off, it gives a much higher chance of them getting hit.