Education Today, Safe Roads Tomorrow

The proper education of drivers is the foundation to reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving. Those who develop safe driving habits during their educational period are more likely to be dependable drivers for the remainder of their lives, therefore making the road a safer place for everyone. There are many steps that can be taken to build this foundation strong enough to promote widespread, and long lasting safe driving habits. The most important of these is ensuring there are ample driver’s education classes available, and that all are of high quality instructional value. This includes offering a variety of widely available class options, all taught by instructors that are reputabley certified. In order to guarantee that all driver’s education programs are teaching quality curriculum, every program should be fully evaluated each year by a representative from the DMV. Another step that can be taken is to increase the number of safe driving campaigns targeted towards young drivers. Whether it be through posters in schools, celebrity endorsed social media ads, or impactful guest speakers, drilling the importance of forming safe driving practices on the young drivers of today will improve the road safety of tomorrow. Finally, one more step that can be taken is to increase the severity of punishments for irresponsible and/or reckless driving. With enough financial or criminal punishment to serve as deterrence, every driver would become more conscious of their driving to preserve their own self interests. Unfortunately, as I myself have experienced, there is no amount of proactivity that can prevent every accident. I was involved in a car crash a few years ago as a passenger with my mother. We T-boned another car due to some mutual confusion about who had the right-of-way at a busy intersection, while driving through an area that both parties were unfamiliar with. Luckily, no one was injured. There have been plenty of other opportunities for members of my family to be involved in collisions, however, because they are not always the prime examples for responsible driving. My father in particular seems to believe that he is above the law in the cases of seatbelt requirements, texting while driving, and several other accessory-oriented road regulations. Granted, he is an excellent driver skill-wise, but he is only human, and he is aging. I fear that it won’t be long until he makes a mistake that costs him, or another roadsman deeply. Steps I have taken to prevent my fears from coming true, is to be the annoying passenger that relentlessly chastises his illegal actions until he makes the appropriate change, then and there. Also, I work hard to be the ideal image of a safe driver to set an exceptional example for my learner sister, so she does not adopt my father’s dangerous habits. By following the foundational safe driving practices that I was taught, I am helping make the roads I drive a safer place for myself, and all others who traverse them alongside me.