The Importance of Safe Driving

Driver education standards vary from state to state. For example, in Rhode Island, the course is 33 hours, where New York only mandates a five hour course. In most states, only teenaged new drivers are required to take a course. It is true that teenagers driving for the first time is an important population to teach, but all new drivers need to be educated. Additionally, it is doubtful that anyone of any age could truly learn the rules of the road in only five hours.

Driver education helps new drivers become safer drivers. It needs to thoroughly teach the rules of the road, that all drivers must legally follow, in a way that students can remember. Also, it goes beyond the laws to teach tips for being more safe. For example, I learned to reduce the speed limit by five miles for every obstacle to driving, so drive 10 miles under the speed limit if the weather is dark and foggy. That is not a legal requirement, but keeps drivers under control in adverse conditions. Driver education emphasizes the power of cars and their speeds, showing new drivers the importance of being safe.

If driver education courses were required for more new drivers and extended to a length that could adequately teach, they would be more effective and help more drivers to be safe. Other ways to increase safety and prevent accidents include promoting and investing in the development of safer cars. Maintaining roadways, keeping them clean, can also reduce obstacles to drivers. State governments could also enact harsher penalties for distracted driving or driving under the influence. Tennessee recently passed a law commonly known as Bentley’s Law, that would require the defendant to pay child support if they were convicted of driving under the influence resulting in the death of someone with an underaged child. Laws such as this can remind people of the consequences of driving unsafely.

My elder brother has been in a severe accident himself. He was completely unharmed, thankfully, and did not hit anyone else, but it still affected our family greatly. He fell asleep while driving late at night and crashed into a tree. I will never forget hearing the news the next morning. It is one of the reasons I did not get my license as soon as I was able to in my state. I delayed a couple of years because I was so nervous to become a driver myself. WIth time and practice, I did become a driver and I do have my own car now.

Since then, my family has gone to extremes to promote safe driving, reminding each other to pull over if we feel tired. My mom found ways to install hands free calling systems in our old cars, so that if someone is feeling tired, but is in an area where it is unsafe to pull over, they can call someone to keep them awake while keeping both hands on the wheel!

I delayed getting my license because I was nervous and I still see other drivers as reckless today. Since necessity requires me to drive often, I do my best to be safe and keep my loved ones safe as well. I have a holder for my phone near my windshield, so that if I need directions, I can glance at my phone as quickly as possible and keep my hands on the wheel. If I do not need directions, I make sure to put my phone upside down and in an unreachable place, to ensure I am not even tempted to be distracted. When I am a passenger in someone else’s car, I do not let them use their phones either, I offer to do whatever they need for them, looking up directions or sending texts. That way, their focus can remain on the road.

Because I can be a nervous driver, I often take a moment before I put my car into gear to take a deep breath. This ensures that I remain calm and focused on driving, instead of acting emotionally. I also leave earlier than necessary, so I do not feel the need to rush on the road. I encourage others to do the same, as well as always offering to take over for them if they seem to be getting emotionally upset or tired.

We drive so often that it is easy to forget that it can be very dangerous. That’s why it is so important that we remember the rules and tips of the road, drive without distractions or anger, and look after our loved ones when they drive as well..