Driver Education Initiative Award

Driving education is really important since it plays a crucial role in minimizing deaths due to driving by teaching us the essentials when it comes to driving such as driving skills, traffic laws, and safety measures. As drivers get more experience they become more aware of potential risks, defensive driving techniques and the dangers of reckless driving. Education programs emphasize responsible decision-making, which can significantly reduce accidents and save lives.

Some ways to reduce the number of deaths when it comes to driving would be enforcing speed limits, DUI laws, and seat belt regulations. Improving Driver Training by making the driver education stricter with thorough hands on training and simulations so the drivers are more prepared for emergencies. Promoting safe driving habits through media campaigns, news outlets, or commercials. Driving through safe road infrastructures, properly light roads and clear signage near roads. Driving vehicles which contain technology such as automatic braking, lane departure warnings and blind-spot monitoring can help prevent collisions. And by Discouraging distracted driving by minimizing in-car distractions such as phone usage, consuming food and focusing on people inside the vehicle.

I’ve Had multiple experiences with car accidents before. One time my family and I were driving back from Tijuana to our House in San Diego. It was night time, my father was driving at an acceptable speed, we were all exhausted from visiting our family then out of nowhere a rock that was around 8 inches wide smashed through the windshield. Glass was everywhere and we were all panicking, my father kept on frantically asking us if we were okay but we were all speechless, my mother had to reassure him that we were fine. My father drove to the nearest light up place with traffic so no one could’ve mugged us. This was a tactic thiefs used to steal cars from families, normally people would pull over then they would attempt to steal your belongings but thankfully my father never stopped. Even though it’s been years since that accident, the scars are still there, everytime we pass around that area we always cover ourselves just in case it happens again. Another accident that happened was when we were on vacation in Cancun. It was our first day there and we finished gazing at the Ancient Chichen Itza Pyramids and were on our way to our Airbnb. I was sleeping most of the beginning of the car ride but then I suddenly woke up and saw a blue car in front of us swerving left and right. The guy was not letting us pass, then he finally parked in between both lanes which meant we couldn’t cross. The guy seemed altered and kept on telling us to get out of the car, we were obviously confused since we’ve never seen this guy before. As we kept on trying to deescalate the situation we saw the guy reach for something from his car’s door compartment but stopped after he saw a car coming his way from behind which made him back up. This gave my father an opening to quickly get out of that place, and as soon as we left we called the police. The guy was stopped, turns out he was Driving under the influence, but the officers made him rest and let him leave with a warning, they didn’t arrest him, to this day I still think of what he had hidden in the compartment, the situation could have gotten out of hand quickly. The last accident we had was when we were getting out of a gas station to continue our trip to San Felipe but out of nowhere a guy hit us in the car’s right rear bumper. This made the piece sag and make weird noises when driving, we had to tape it up and use some loose screws to hold it up for the time being. The guy who hit us was distracted with his phone and was driving in the wrong lane. our insurance doesn’t cover accidents outside of the United States, all of these accidents happened in Mexico.

Some steps I can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road could be; to always obey speed limits, traffic signals and road signs. Avoid being distracted from food or phone usage. Staying alert and anticipating the unexpected to what other drivers may do. Never drive under the influence, it’s recommended to rest and wait it out if one’s intoxicated before driving. Speak up to friends and family if I ever see them driving recklessly. And always keep up with new rules and regulations regarding driving.