Driver Education: Defense Against Dangers

It has been a long time since I was in a serious car accident. I just remember one, faintly, from my childhood. Thankfully, I have never actually been in one while I was behind the wheel. However, recently, I got close to being in one. I was waiting to turn into a parking lot, and there was no turn lane, so I was stopped on the road. All of a sudden, I heard squealing brakes behind me, and I glanced in my rearview mirror. Someone behind me could not quite stop in time, and they bumped into the rear of my car hard enough to shake the whole vehicle. I was able to turn into a parking lot, and the person who ran into me came to check if I was okay. Thankfully, I was fine, and my car was not damaged either, except for a scratch. Even though nothing serious had happened, my hands could not stop shaking for a long while afterwards. Just thinking about it makes me anxious. After that experience, I am even more careful and cautious when I am driving. My eyes are opened to the very real dangers of driving. Because of that experience, I know that having the knowledge of how to drive safely and defensively is the first step in being safe behind the wheel.

Many steps can and should be taken to reduce the number of car accidents and deaths related to driving. The first step is education and stringent tests. Before ever getting behind the wheel, people need to be correctly educated in how to drive. For me, that looked like studying a driver’s manual and practicing driving with my permit with a trusted adult to teach me. I also had to pass multiple tests to get my permit and license. Continuing doing regular tests throughout people’s lives also needs to be considered, especially as people reach old age and their mental faculties deteriorate. Recently, my grandfather ran into his house because he did not put the car in park. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but this demonstrates how tests in someone’s teenage years are not enough to guarantee they will have safe driving skills for life. A second crucial step in safe driving is to reduce distractions. One of the first pieces of driving advice I received was to limit the number of things I hang from my rearview mirror, since they could be a distraction and restrict my range of vision. Additionally, no one should be texting or scrolling on social media as they drive. Finally, one of the biggest dangers of driving is driving under the influence. People who drive under the influence need to face profound consequences, as 31% of deaths related to driving are caused by people driving under the influence, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That needs to be stopped. These steps are the first ones that need to be taken to stop the high number of deaths related to driving.

Though the steps listed above should be taken across the board, there are steps I can take as an individual to promote safe driving, both for myself and others. As I mentioned above, I was educated thoroughly before I became a licensed driver, but I do not stop there. I limit my distractions while I drive, such as staying off my phone and refraining from blasting music dangerously loud. I am a defensive driver. Also, even though I am still young, I can try to help others drive defensively as well. I do not have much influence over my parents or friends, but I am the oldest child in my family, and I have two younger siblings. These siblings are not driving age yet, but I still talk to them about driving when I get the chance. I drive them around a good amount, and when I do, I talk about and demonstrate to them safe driving habits. I discuss with them about stopping at stop signs and judging when to stop when nearing a yellow light at an intersection. I sometimes quiz my sister about the rules of the road. Most of all, I try to teach them how to be aware. Being aware is the most important part of being behind the wheel, and that is something I will strive to be for the rest of my driving career.

Though knowledge of how to drive correctly is the first step in being safe on the road, there are many more steps that should be taken throughout someone’s time behind the wheel. Reducing distractions and not driving under the influence are the most important. However, no one can control everyone on the road, which is why a driver must always be vigilant and aware of their surroundings. I will always remember a saying my grandfather told me when I was first learning how to drive. It goes like this: “You can be dead right.” It is short and easy to remember, but the meaning is serious. Someone can be absolutely right in every aspect of their driving, but still be dead because of another driver. That is why it is important to always drive defensively, because the true dangers of the road are incredibly frightening.