Small Changes Make a Big Impact

Small
Changes Make a Big Impact

Driving
is a privilege that many of us abuse. Everyone is guilty of speeding
or running a red light at some point. Laws get broken and car crashes
happen. There is no finger to point or blame to give, but the amount
of car crashes annually is higher than it should be and we must do
something about it. Reducing the number of deaths related to driving
is no easy task, but there are actions we can take to make this
happen. As a country, we can choose to be aware of our surroundings
and driving conditions as well as encourage the understanding of
driving education and how to be a safe driver.

Let’s
think back to learning how to drive. You likely knew what most road
signs meant. Do you still remember what each sign, each color, or
each shape means? Most people only retain and regurgitate this
information for the written part of the driver’s test. If you look
back, you might remember having to record a certain amount of drive
time before being allowed to take the driving part of the test too.
We all know how easy it is to lie on this form, especially if you
didn’t have someone there that forced you to keep track. From this,
one could infer that in general, people do not have the right mindset
for learning how to drive. Many people treat it like a test you have
to pass in high school, though this is a much different scenario.
Driving can be quite challenging and is different every time you get
in the driver’s seat. Conditions change, cars age, and roads are all
different. Driving isn’t something you can learn once and be an
expert at. It takes time, dedication, and is constantly changing. A
little change in the mindset we have for driving is just one step
that could greatly impact the number of deaths and crashes related to
driving.

Driving
education is more than just the driving test or the written test we
take once. Driving education should be a working knowledge and
understanding of how to operate a vehicle. Now, we cannot force
people to understand how to drive or how a vehicle works, but we can
make this information easily accessible and easy to understand. I
think a big portion of understanding how to drive is understanding
how your vehicle works. Driving education should include a basic
understanding of the engine under the hood. Realizing that it takes
more effort for your vehicle to go up a hill will help you understand
why you have to press the gas harder. Understanding that breaking
cannot happen immediately, especially in wet roads, helps us
understand why cars slide in the rain. This idea of driving education
and basic engine understanding is a continual process you have to
think about when you get behind the steering wheel. Just like
acknowledging that driving is a privilege, this could revolutionize
the world of driving.