In the Driver’s Seat: Importance of Awareness

As a child, I would imagine traffic as a synchronized dance: people working together, changing lanes, blinking lights, and turning when the light turns green. But driving doesn’t always paint such a pretty picture. It is also something that has cost millions of lives and ruined families. Thus, driver education is critical in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving by promoting awareness of laws and risk factors. As a novice driver myself, I recognize the significance of thoroughly understanding regulations, accident avoidance techniques, and the various factors that contribute to the dangers of driving. Driver education provides students with a low-risk place to educate themselves on topics instead of learning about the dangers of driving firsthand. Driver education isn’t just about learning the basic rules of how to drive; it’s also about what should be done in case of emergencies and the critical thinking skills necessary to avoid accidents proactively. Anyone can stop at a red light, but not everyone knows to double-check the road before proceeding through a green light. Anyone can be a driver, but a good driver knows how to correctly and efficiently respond to avoid accidents. Quality education is, without a doubt, a must.

In addition to education, infrastructure investments play a central role in enhancing road safety. Clear road markings and visible signs are essential for guiding all drivers and minimizing the risk of accidents, particularly in areas with limited visibility. Trees covering stop signs, as is the case in areas of my neighborhood, or faded directions can lead to people not giving priority or going against traffic, resulting in more accidents. Public transportation can be expanded and made more reliable so it becomes an option for those who cannot drive safely at the time being. As someone who took the bus from school to home for two years and has talked with several students with the same problem, it would be common for buses to be up to an hour late. Because of the current unreliability of public transportation in certain areas, people turn to drive themselves, even if they put themselves and others at a huge risk.

I am blessed to have never been in a car accident myself, but I’ve witnessed several accidents and my friends partaking in dangerous driving. My first encounter was observing a car hit a motorcycle while turning right. The driver was not able to see the motorcycle on the right at the high speed it was traveling, and the motorcyclist unfortunately did not make it. Seeing death right in front of me because of a small mistake was surreal, but it also reminded me of the power of the 3,000-pound car I was in charge of controlling. The accessibility and comfort of cars often make us forget the power automobiles have even at a couple of miles per hour. In addition, because public transportation was not an option for one of my friends, they resorted to driving a car without a permit or license. They had not had any real education or experience behind the wheel, which was extremely irresponsible and could have resulted in massive consequences, including their lives. People often put themselves in unnecessary risks because of a lack of awareness or understanding of the dangers. I’ve heard many horror stories from friends about their relatives drunk driving or being a victim of drunk driving. Not only are the aftermaths of these accidents horrifying, but also how prevalent they are.

Experiencing driving anxiety because of the dangers and seeing how deadly driving can be firsthand, I’ve started taking action to help others on their journey. Last year, I was the secretary of my school’s driver’s ed club, and this year, I became the president. Although small and on a community level, driver’s ed allows me to share my experiences and knowledge of driving with all my classmates. We have also earned money by selling food to help pay for driving courses for those who cannot afford it. Because our school does not currently have a driving education course, I’ve been very thankful to have the opportunity to start spreading awareness about responsible driving. However, this has only been the start of how I hope to contribute. I will continue practicing safe habits and pointing out things that may put people in danger. Continuing to study driver’s ed to inform my club and family has not only hopefully spread more awareness, but has also lessened my anxiety and worries about driving. Driving can be an enjoyable and efficient method of transportation if everyone’s on the same page.