What driver education means to me

In high school, I was naive about how important driver education is, but as an adult, I’ve come to realize just how crucial it is. Driver education not only teaches the fundamental skills needed to operate a vehicle but also road safety.

The knowledge gained from a driver’s education course helps students become more comfortable and confident behind the wheel. Ultimately, this leads to safer driving practices, reducing the likelihood of accidents and deaths. Understanding the rules of the road, being aware of safety precautions, and developing defensive driving skills are key to have safer drivers. Driver education is vital, not only for the individual driver but for the safety of the entire community.

Steps to reduce the number of deaths

One important step that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths on the road is to continue making driver education a required class in high school. Additionally, it is essential to continually improve and update the driver education curriculum to stay relevant in our ever-evolving world.

My car accident experience

In my early 20s, I was thrilled to buy my first brand-new car. Just three months later, I was involved in a car accident. I was the first car stopped at a red light in the left-turn lane. When the arrow turned green, I began to turn into the mall parking lot. However, a car traveling in the opposite direction failed to notice that they had a red light and ran straight through the intersection, T-boning my car.

The impact sent my car spinning 180 degrees, slid across the median, and nearly missed the mall sigh my inches. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but my shoulder had slammed into the door during the spin, leading to muscle stiffness that required physical therapy. My car’s airbags deployed, and the force of the collision bent my car frame, ultimately declaring it totaled.

I was devastated by the loss of my car. I had worked so hard to buy it. It was later revealed that the other driver was a young teenager who wasn’t old enough to have a driver’s license or even a permit. She had taken her mother’s car for a joyride while her mom was nearby salon.

Step to be a better driver and help others

To become a better driver, one of the most important steps I can take is always allowing myself plenty of time to reach my destination. By planning ahead and giving myself more than enough time to arrive, I avoid feeling rushed and less likely to cause an accident.

Additionally, I make it a priority to always follow the speed limits and adhere to traffic laws. Speeding increases the risk of accidents and leads to less time to react to unexpected situations. Staying within the speed limit ensures I can drive safely and responsibly.

Another key step is to remain fully present and aware of my surroundings while driving. Being attentive to other drivers, pedestrians, and road conditions helps me anticipate potential hazards and react appropriately. This mindfulness contributes to a safer and more controlled driving experience.

I can be a more responsible and safer driver by consistently following these steps—allowing ample time to drive, respecting speed limits, and staying aware of my surroundings.

Ways I can help other be safe drivers

Is to be courteous on the road. I believe in the power of energy. If you have a calm demeanor some other driver will have the same energy. If you are driving with an energy life road rag, some other drivers will feel that energy and may mimic it.

A belief I strongly hold is that merging is a major cause of accidents on the road. From my experience, I’ve witnessed many near-accidents that stem from drivers not knowing how to merge properly. Merging should be like a zipper, where one car smoothly feeds into the next, creating a seamless line. Unfortunately, this is often not the case.

Speed is another crucial factor in merging, and many drivers fail to consider it. I’ve seen people speed up aggressively to get ahead of others, driven by ego, while others slow down too much to let someone else merge. While their intentions may be to be courteous, this can also be dangerous. Both behaviors—whether speeding up or slowing down too much—can cause accidents.

As you can see, merging is one of my biggest pet peeves. I jokingly say that I’m going to write a simple book on the subject, but the more I think about it, the more I realize it could actually be beneficial. Educating drivers on how to merge properly—both safely and courteously—could go a long way in preventing accidents and making our roads safer.