Responsibilities on The Road: Why Driver’s Education is Important for All

Although Driver’s Education courses are not mandatory requirements to obtain a license, I believe that it is in the best interests of every person operating a vehicle to strongly consider the benefits that these courses provide. Once you begin driving, not only are you responsible for your safety, but the safety of those around you as well. After all, it is a privilege, not a right, to operate a vehicle. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.35 million people globally die from vehicle accidents per year. Driver’s Education is highly encouraged as the safe driving knowledge one receives through these programs have statistically been known to decrease the percentage of people who are involved in vehicular fatalities. Driver’s Education helps students become competent and confident behind the wheel by teaching rules of the road, defensive driving techniques, and introducing various driving scenarios. Personally, I benefited the most through engagement in simulation training and during the practice lessons. These methods of teaching and one-on-one time with instructors significantly enhanced my driving abilities.

Based on my personal experiences while watching others drive on the road, one major thing people could do to reduce the number of driving-related deaths is to take frequent breaks throughout their travels. I have seen many instances where drivers fall asleep at the wheel due to fatigue, causing them to swerve into other lanes and almost collide with others. Highlighting the importance of utilizing pit stops for breaks can help prevent these issues from persisting. Furthermore, using safe-ride services when under the influence is of utmost importance when reducing vehicle-related deaths. I live in a smaller community where we do not have access to Uber and sometimes taxis can be unreliable, which causes many issues for people who require rides home. To alleviate this issue, many people in the community offer to be designated drivers for people attending weekend parties and events. This prevents people from feeling as though they have to drive themselves home when they are under the influence, thereby reducing the risk of fatal accidents from occurring. Other steps that people can take to ensure safety on the road is to consistently practice good driving techniques. Examples of this include keeping a safe distance between cars and demonstrating rules of the road, such as right of way, understanding and abiding by road signs, and signalling which direction you intend on going. These are all vital aspects that keep yourself and others around you safe, therefore reducing the likelihood that vehicular fatalities will occur.

I have a family member who used to drive irresponsibly and was a frequent distracted driver. This family member of mine road raged at cars and sped excessively to avoid being late for events, often swerving in and out of lanes and cutting people off. With regards to experiencing car accidents, although I (thankfully) have not been involved in a car accident myself, I witnessed the unfortunate impact that a vehicle fatality has had on my small community. The result of a drunk driving and stunt racing incident led to the death of someone in my township, as well as the life-threating injuries of others in the vehicle. The person responsible was a repeat offender of drunk driving and stunt racing theirs’s (and other’s) vehicles. One of the reasons why I believe that these incidents occur in young drivers is due to the perception that reckless driving can seem “cool”. Unsafe driving methods are evident in movies, television, and video games for young people to consume even before they begin driving. Absorbing this content may, in some instances, alter the perceptions of what is acceptable with regards to careful driving. With some people that I know, there is a certain rebelliousness and thrill of breaking the rules that seems enticing to some individuals, even when their own life is at stake.

I believe that many accidents that result in death are preventable. We must highlight the responsibility that drivers have to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely. One way we can do this is to deconstruct the reasons why reckless driving may seem cool or necessary to some individuals and work towards changing this. Another important way we can all be safer on the road is to allow ourselves plenty of time to get to where we need to be. When drivers are anxious about being late, there is an increased likelihood that excessive speeding and swerving on major roadways may occur. By giving yourself lots of travel time, drivers can utilize safer driving techniques and, thus, reduce the percentage of vehicular fatalities. As for myself, after reflecting on my own driving safety, I am definitely not perfect and can see where my bad habit began. When I was younger and rode in the car with my family, I would be DJing and skipping songs on my phone to what I liked to hear. I never had to worry about being on my phone in the car and not paying attention to what was going on outside of the vehicle. I believe that being comfortable in a car on my phone and skipping songs created a subconscious habit that continued throughout my own years of driving. There were times where, because I was more confident at the wheel, I reached down to my phone to change music. I realized how unsafe this practice was and made the conscious effort to break this habit by keeping my phone in my purse on the backseat of the car. Nowadays, if I do need my phone for GPS, I bought a phone holder that attaches to my vent. That way, I no longer feel the urge to glance down to view my phone. Additionally, I make use of the “Do Not Disturb” feature on my phone to turn off all incoming notifications so as to not get distracted while I am driving. I believe that taking small actions like these to prevent vehicle accidents are essential for avoiding distracted driving and possible death. Additionally, many instances that I have seen (especially with my family member as stated previously) where driving could have led to fatality is road raging on major highways. Some people have different levels of experience with driving, so remembering to practice patience and empathy (especially with newer drivers) is crucial. Raging at someone on the road will not solve anything, it will only create more issues and elevate stress which can increase chances for further accidents to occur.

Overall, driving is, in my opinion, one of the biggest responsibilities that someone can have, especially if you are young and just learning. It is important to build a steady foundation of driving knowledge in order to make wiser and safer decisions when faced with challenging scenarios on the road. I believe that Driver’s Education courses are excellent ways for drivers to acquire this knowledge and practice with licensed professionals. The payoff is rewarding as you are keeping yourself and everyone around you safe.