The Kindness of Great Drivers

Through educating subjects including vehicle operation, laws and regulations, and proper responses to life threatening situations, drivers education builds a baseline knowledge that prevents fatal accidents. Without knowing how a vehicle responds and operates, driving can be dangerous for both the driver and those around them. If a person does not have a good grasp on safe braking procedures, maneuverability methods, and spatial recognition, navigating the roadways places everyone involved at risk. Drivers education teaches students how to be a uniform and skillful driver, which builds trust between the driver, the car, and others on the road. It eases tension and balances responsibility, making driving both more enjoyable and safe. There’s a reason why driving instructors are so adamant on traffic laws in their curriculum. They are created in order to protect drivers from avoidable accidents, and to improve the quality of driving overall. Whether it be differentiating a solid and dashed yellow line, stop sign etiquette, or restrictions on driving under the influence, drivers education ensures that their students know and instill practices related to traffic laws. Without them, the roads would be incredibly dangerous as discrepancies in legal knowledge could result in serious misunderstandings and disastrous outcomes. Finally, driver education teaches students how to react to situations on the road that may be life threatening, reducing the number of accidents that could potentially happen. It warns students of past mistakes that people just like them have made, and the “correct” way of responding.

Driver education is vital in reducing the number of car-related deaths, as well creating a positive outlook towards driving and the regulations surrounding it. Equal access to drivers education is the first preventative measure when it comes to lessening the number of deaths on the roadways. This means lowering price points, internet accessibility, and required adult participation. By expanding the demographic of those partaking in drivers education, there will be lessened defensive driving and increased skill across the board. While it teaches students what they should do in a dangerous situation, however, it is up to the student to implement these steps into their routine. One of the main steps is to recognize the external responsibilities that come with driving. Often safety is self centric, but when a person steps into a car, they need to be mindful of the safety of those around them, and implement driving practices that show that. Every person, no matter who they are, has someone that loves or depends on them. This is enough reason to follow the laws of the road, and drive like someone loves you. With this motivator in mind, many would rethink their decision to drive recklessly.

I have been in one accident that altered my opinion of driving permanently, and encouraged me to take greater care when it comes to driving. Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, has been my family’s vacation spot since I could walk. After a long day at Dollywood, all we had wanted to do was to return to our hotel. We took two cars: one with my mom and dad, the other with my friend, grandmother, and my grandmother’s close friend. I, of course, chose the car with my friend. During the car ride, the driver, my grandmother’s friend, chatted on. She was a theatrical woman: Her hands painted the scene of her narrative, leaving the steering wheel, occasionally placing them back to jolt the rental car rightward when the headlights of an opposing car approached. At around eight o’clock, we entered the bustling streets of downtown. Despite the growing number of vehicles and pedestrians on the road, our driver maintained the same level of carelessness when it came to driving safely. Facing my grandmother, the driver pressed onto the gas as we approached one of the busiest intersections in the area. She turned left. Complicated turn lanes, delayed lights, and diagonal crosswalks ensued, but she did not notice this until the blinding headlights of a Ford F-150 shone through the passenger side window. I remember the shrieks of my grandmother, my friend’s body slamming against mine, and the deafening crack of my window shattering into pieces against the impact of my head. The next few minutes were filled with confused remarks, soft sobs, and my grandmother’s growing irritation. The cop at the scene explained that the turn lane, despite the light for straight moving traffic was green, was supposed to halt to the incoming traffic. If our driver had taken the time to survey our surroundings, the scrapes, sore necks, and rental bills could have easily been avoided. From then on, I swore to myself that I would be an attentive driver, no matter the circumstances.

One step that I can take to be a safer driver is to keep my speed down. Often, I find myself influenced by those around me when it comes to driving on the highway. When groups of speeding vehicles pass me, I feel like I am going too slow for them and becoming an annoyance; therefore, I tend to push the speed limit. Recently, I have been more aware of the impact that I have on other drivers. Even though I adhere to safe driving habits, including increased awareness and roadway etiquette, speeding is one of the most common reasons for fatalities. So, when I feel the need to match other’s speed, I must think to myself that I am setting a poor example for others, and could be putting a plethora of people in danger. I ask myself, “would the person riding my tail end stop to help me if I got into an accident?” The answer is always no. The people with speeding habits do not think of themselves, so why would they think of others’ safety?