Driver Education Initative

The importance of proper driving education cannot be understated. Transportation has become an essential part of human society, an existence so common the every-man does not think twice about operating machinery with potential deadly consequences to both operator, fellow operators and bystanders alike. Vehicles, however, are merely tools; technological marvels that enhance our daily living and solve the problem of timely transportation. Thus, is it essential for education to not only teach the proper usage of said tools, but also the responsibility that comes with it. Education can only save and better lives, through proper teachings creating more educated and prepared drivers could driving-related deaths see any significant numerical decrease.

Education remains at the forefront in the battle against deaths on the road, but it’s far from being the only contributing factor. Sobriety, focus, and physical and mental well-being all play integral parts in upholding the solid foundation of assuring a maximized chance of road safety. Tempting as it may be for those enticed by the restrictions upon drugs relaxing to be on the same level of alcohol usage, it must be stressed that consumption of anything altering one’s mind and dulling their senses has no place behind the wheel of a vehicle. Despite the importance of sobriety, a sober mind does not automatically make for a focused one and a distracted driver is still well within the world of harmful risks. Phones, as remarkable as they are, are an easy trap drivers can fall into when it comes to distractions; continued hands-free programs implementations in cars remain a better alternative, but fail to be a substitution for fully honing in on the task at hand: driving.

One’s own well being comes into play as well, a driver must be physically and mentally capable to operate a vehicle and make decisions ranging in difficulty from simple to split-second life-or-death. Thankfully the situation is far from hopeless for those with physical limitations; I cannot help but think back to my eighth-grade science teacher, a wonderful and smart man who was the organizer of our scholastic quiz bowl team and thus had to drive all over the state for competitions. This man was wheelchair bound and despite his inability to use his legs, I recall watching in astonishment the technology installed within his truck that allowed him in and out of the vehicle alongside what allowed him to actually drive with assistance. He was and still is, a safe driver and someone that opened my eyes to the possibilities of technology helping create safe drivers. Mental health is of a similar vein with importance in contributing to safe roads, yet the human mind, as brilliant as it is, is also remarkably fragile and must be faced with some harsh truths to prevent harm from coming to anybody.

I have no desire to preach nor see anyone be refused their place on the road, but alternatives must be considered for those unable to guarantee their best efforts in reducing the driving death toll. I was eleven when I was in a car accident and the day remains crystal clear in my mind even at the age of twenty-four; I had blacked out and found myself staring up at the sky laying on the road in confusion before I could gather what had actually transpired. Our family car had been crushed in half with the only saving grace being both myself and my mother, who was driving, had been flung out of the car from the impact and avoiding death by sheer luck. Panicking, I dragged her unconscious body from the scene of the wreckage to the sidewalk out of the road. People were shouting, cars were coming to an abrupt stop, employees from the nearby State Farm building, whom the car had actually hit before continuing to drive off after bouncing off of our wreck, came to check on us but all I could focus on was that man driving away as if nothing had happened.

The man bled out in his driveway, as I was told the driver door has been crushed inwards with metal embedding itself in his body. None of this needed to happen, a man didn’t need to die and two people didn’t need to be permanently scarred for life. I reiterate my point that I have no desire to deny anybody basic modern rights that everyone else has, but it must be acknowledged that the safety and wellbeing of everyone on the roads take priority and mental health can be a detriment if not given the proper attention it deserves. Rather it be from illness or age, a sharp mind remains important when being behind the wheel. The sole silver lining I find from my experience is perhaps that event is what molded me into the safe driver I am today.

I had heard countless horror stories and warnings against the numerous pitfalls young drivers fell into when I was first starting out, but to personally experience an accident solidified my desire to maintain an ironclad sense of responsibility for not only myself, but those that may be in the car with me and other drivers on the road. I would never wish for anyone else to go through the fear that I went through on that day, as it never truly leaves you as exampled by the fact I still flinch and get nervous when watching someone merely pull up to a stop or pull out of their driveway to leave. I only wish that others would think on the possibility of permanent consequences and those who would suffer them when they’re not practicing safe driving habits. Life’s amazing and with how much there is to see and do, it feels pretty silly to throw it all away because you’re wanting to send your friends a funny cat picture while you’re driving.