About Driver’s Education

I consider myself a visual learner. I process information best when I can map out a diagram to visualize what I need to complete. I’m also a photographer, and when I take pictures, I am very aware of my frame: the angle, the lighting, and the detail. Since moving to NYC in elementary school, I have become acutely aware of how individuals drive especially in a big city where there are a ton of pedestrians, delivery drivers on bikes, runners, yellow cabs, Ubers/Lyfts, and of course, the tourists.

I believe driver’s education is an important opportunity to educate future and current drivers on the importance of safety and being a defensive driver.  It allows people to see how being a responsible driver can save lives.  It also helps people to better understand the traffic laws, new and old, and why they were created – for the implementation of our protection.  Driver education also focuses on cultivating responsible attitudes and behaviors. 

I have been involved in several accidents, not as the driver, but as a passenger in the back seat. These accidents could have been avoided if the drivers had taken driver’s education and truly understood the impacts of safe driving. My mother was driving and we were leaving our garage in the apartment complex. My mother turned left to exit and then stopped at the traffic light. She proceeded through the intersection and put on her turning signal to turn left. Apparently, the driver did not see the brake light nor the blinking lights for a turn and rear ended us. Fortunately, no one was injured but I know from my driver’s education class that my mother followed the appropriate procedures. The other driver could have benefitted from the course by understanding the rules of the road. Recently, I was returning to campus after dinner with friends in an Uber and as we entered the road to the campus we were hit by another car. My friends and I exited the vehicle to see what happened and three young men were in the vehicle. We could tell that the young men in the vehicle were under the influence. We believed that since we were on a private road at a low speed was reason why there were no damages to the vehicle and no bodily injuries. According to data, these incidents could have been prevented or avoided if there was training with an understanding of implications following too close and driving under the influence. Not only can driver’s education inform but it can over time build stronger driving habits. In the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, he writes about how tiny changes​, or steps make a big difference.  For example, in driver’s education with a breakdown of everything that goes into driving ​from car maintenance​ to seat positioning, side, and rearview mirrors, traffic signs, and the rules of the road.  ​The more people participate in more classes and education, the more they will learn and recall the rules one could build sound driving habits.  It is a belief that over time your understanding of safe driving improves over time. This is one of the reasons why driver’s education is critical not only when getting your license but also when there is an offense, incident, or accident.

It educates drivers on the effects and the dangers of speeding, driving while drunk, driving while distracted. I have never stopped to really think about the impact of all the drivers on the road and the steps we can all take to reduce the number of incidents until now.  I am aware of technology in new vehicles that are equipped to provide safeguards against incidents.  This technology, blind spot cameras/ alerts, lane change alerts, etc. are available to support drivers.  I believe these innovative solutions are steps in the appropriate direction to aid drivers.  Our role and other steps to reduce deaths on the road is to ensure our vehicles are well-maintained and in good working condition. We, as individuals, must be good defensive and offensive drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.  We must do our best to eliminate distractions when driving.  If you must answer a text or pick up a dropped phone, you just pull over.  It only takes a few seconds with your eyes off the road for an accident to occur.  If you are unable to drive or are impaired, call a service or ask a friend to drive you.  Obey the traffic laws and signs, including maintaining the appropriate speed limit.  As drivers, we can all help prevent car accidents or deaths related to car accidents by following these steps and a little help from technology and Artificial Intelligence and Driver’s Education.