Rules of the Road

Rules of the Road

Drivers ed is important not only for the student, but for others on the road. Drivers ed obviously teaches teenagers and young adults the basic rules of the road, the parts of the car that are going to be important in handling the vehicle, as well as statistics attached to driving, and going on practice drives with a certified driving instructor. But even for the most cautious of drivers, this is not enough to keep them safe on the road. It cannot protect you from those who decided to be selfish and drive home under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, from those who text and drive, and even the elderly who are not capable of driving anymore, but still do. Steps that could be prevented in order to save lives on the road is to stress the importance of defensive driving—being aware of your surroundings at ALL times, always checking mirrors, speed limits, intersections before driving through them, and more. As someone who was in an accident caused by an elderly woman who did not check her mirrors and look behind her before merging, I think there should be another test that is taken at the age of 60 that determines whether or not the person is eligible to renew their license. With younger people, texting and driving is becoming more of an issue, one of which I see with both my parents. It is important to talk with friends and family about the dangers of distracted driving, and the risk they put themselves and others in when they do not choose to drive safely. Another way to keep others safe and to be a better driver yourself is to let whoever you are in contact with at the time that you are behind the wheel so they do not distract you, and to always be aware of your surroundings, including weather and road conditions so you know how to best prepare yourself for driving.