Informed Equiped and Motivated to Save Driver’s Lives

Education begins the movement we want to see in the world, and driver safety is no exception. Driver safety courses is the first action for beginning drivers to learn basic road safety and critical safety techniques for various driving hazards. Did you know that more than 40% of crashes are at intersections? Nearly 7% of fatal car crashes are drivers who fail to yield to the right of way. Educating new and experienced drivers alike on rules and regulations of the road prepares them to drive accident free. Driver safety courses equips drivers for threats such as careless actions by others, dangers triggered by altered physical states, and poor visibility due to weather conditions. Driver education classes allows opportunity to learn these skills in written and driving tests putting the students knowledge into valuable practice and habit while under the supervision of a skilled safe driver. Educated drivers practicing safe habits is the first step to decreasing accidents on our roads.

Unfortunately over half of driving related fatalities are caused by impaired judgment due to alcohol or drugs. The first step of decreasing the number of drivers under the influence is informing the public of the statistics and dangers of driving impaired. Providing resources and treatment for alcohol and drug addictions helps drivers live healthier and less impaired lessoning the chances of them driving impaired. Enforcing laws prohibiting impaired driving and making them known may motivate drivers to drive sober. As prevention of impaired driving reducing drinking and drug consumption as a whole will also decrease the amount of drivers under the influence. With advancements in artificial intelligence we are on our way to developing driver alcohol detection technologies to find drivers who need accountability and help. Another high fatality mistake for drivers is driving to fast for the conditions. Everyone is in a hurry these days and we all have things that we want or need to do however speeding continues to need to be enforced. If you can get drivers to obey the speed limits it will reduce those fatalities as well as those due to reckless driving, carless driving, and veering into other lanes. Distracted driving is one more common cause of too many traffic related deaths. Making known and enforcing laws on distracted driving is the beginning of a worthy battle. Keeping drivers aware of the risks and educating and practicing defensive driving is essential. Rewarding safe driving with incentives and discounts on insurance policies will motivate drivers to drive more safe and less distracted. Funding and advertising and making alternative forms of traffic is another growing relief when it comes to decreasing traffic fatalities. Bus, ride shares, mass transit rails, and biking are all growing alternative modes of transit. Decreasing the amount of drivers on the roads decreases the amount of accidents. We can also work on engineering and constructing roads with more safety in mind. Keeping records of accidents and targeting hazardous areas for reconstruction is vital to decrease fatalities. Also listening to the input of what the community is observing and saying about where the hazard areas are. Safer road conditions ensures safer driving.

My mom was in an accident in an intersection due to a distracted driver. Fortunately both drivers walked away without injuries and there were no fatalities but if you can decrease the number of accidents you can decrease the number of fatalities. Even though my mom is a safe driver and she had the right of way, she learned to be more vigilant in her defensive driving from then on.

Changes you want to see in the world often needs to happen in an individual first. Part of that is taking responsibility for the impact I have on the roads. Even though I think of myself as a safe driver, it has been nearly fifteen years since refreshing my mind on basic traffic safety. I could easily sit down at night time and review traffic laws and protocol before bed a couple of nights just as a refresher. I can continuing to practice my defensive driving skills on the road by avoiding distractions, going the speed limit, allowing the right amount of following distance, and scanning my surroundings. I will continue to set the example to my family not use my phone while driving and requesting others I ride with the same. When we go out, we will continue to have designated drivers for our special outings. You can’t always change what other people choose to do, but you can make your own choices and inform and educate others on the risks of driving. “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.” -Herbert Spencer