Driving safely saves lives

The importance of driver education is linked to reducing the number deaths as a result of driving I believe. I went to driving school as a teenager and some of the videos and pictures that we saw as a part of the class stuck with me. Post accident images of passengers’ teeth lodged into the front seat headrest because of passengers in the backseat not wearing their seatbelts will forever live in my mind. I make sure that all passengers in my vehicle buckle up. Furthermore, my driving instructor was calm, cool, and collected and made me feel comfortable and safe to learn how to drive from him whereas my father was an aggressive teacher, and my mom would give me extreme anxiety when I drove. The driving instructor had the most tools to be an effective teacher, and I think that the roads would be safer if every person who drove was required to properly learn how to drive first. The driving test to earn your license to operate a vehicle is exceptionally simplified.

Some steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are learning how to drive from a qualified instructor, do not be distracted while driving, do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, do not drive when you are overtired (I got into a car accident because I fell asleep at the wheel on my way home from work while in the Navy and know of one other sailor who drove his car off a bridge AND SURVIVED after he also fell asleep at the wheel after a duty day. He claims, “You can fly a Honda Fit at least one time.”) Adding to the list of steps to take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are practice driving, avoid driving at night, avoid driving in traffic congested areas, remain vigilant, know the rules of the road, know when to call 911, properly maintain your car to include the oil changes, tire rotations, new tires, headlight checks, etc., Maintain proper distance when driving behind vehicles, pull over to the side of the road and stop when emergency response vehicles are driving by with their sirens on and wait until all emergency vehicles have passed, stop for school buses with their stop signs deployed, do not tailgate, do not break check, drive defensively not aggressively, do not use high beams in the fog, change lanes to make space for vehicles on the side of the highway, do not drive in a trucks blind spot, do not stop on railroad tracks (I’ve seen this so, so many times and am dumbfounded each time I see it.) Make sure to keep a full gas tank because it takes just as much effort to fill up the top half of your tank as it takes to fill the bottom half. There are so many ways to stay safe on the road but sometimes no matter how safe you are, someone else can jeopardize your safety.

I have had several experiences of being in car accidents and have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly. When I was a teenager and driving my dad’s car, I was making a slow right turn when the car drove over black ice. Instead of executing the turn the car went straight and I crashed into a stop sign. I could have had a better outcome if I had more experience driving in icy conditions but ultimately, it would have been better to have not been driving that day. I once was the passenger on a motorcycle and the driver was driving recklessly and irresponsibly which made me feel vulnerable and afraid for both of our lives. When he pulled over, we had an argument over the situation, but he decided to drive responsibly on the way back home.

Steps I can take to be a better and safer driver are memorizing more routes because I rely on my GPS to help me navigate locally but if I just remembered all the roads then I wouldn’t have to take my eyes off the road to pay attention to the GPS. As far as helping others become safer on the road, I can only teach or advocate to the people around me to practice safer driving habits but ultimately, I cannot change how another person decides to drive. Some people make a habit out of poor driving choices and disregard their own personal safety and the safety of others.