Driving with Confidence

With the ability of being able to commute anywhere at any given moment, risks are always present on the road, no matter how much experience the driver may have. There has been a scaringly large number of driver-related deaths, and lots of the faults boil down to poor education and lack of roadside awareness. No matter what safety features a vehicle may have, there is always the risk of injury to other drivers on top of injury to oneself. To ensure that every legal driver has the education, skill, and experience necessary to drive safely, multiple changes need to be made. Driving education, necessary steps to reduce casualties, personal experience, and driving suggestions all will be put into detail on what change can be done to make the road a safer place, with experience that may relate to many other drivers.

First off, education will always be the backbone of one’s driving ability, with the knowledge to identify, act, and pursue decisions on the road. Take mathematics for example, where solving problems over time makes you more efficient at solving that problem. Moreover, the more skilled you get at solving that problem, the more complex problems that can be solved. Now compare that to driving school or driving itself in that manner. Understanding road laws is equivalent to understanding the strategy to solve a math problem. Obtaining driving hours and practice is equivalent to practicing a solving different math problems. Finally, driving in different road conditions and environments is equivalent to solving a more complex math problem. However, driving and math problems have one key difference, and that difference is safety. When you make a mistake on any sort of math problem, you can just keep trying until the problem is solved correctly. However, a mistake on the road can mean a life-or-death situation, and understanding the fundamentals of how to respond to different road situations can mean a life saved. Let’s say that you’re being blinded by a driver having their high beams on, for example. Understanding how to react to this situation can help prevent an accident. The proper reaction to this situation would be to look to the right edge of your lane, but uneducated drivers may continue to keep driving and may even incur road rage. This is only one of many examples that some drivers may face, and proper education is crucial for the safety of not only yourself but other drivers.

Now, what steps can be taken to help reduce the number of deaths related to driving? Stronger education requirements and public awareness are both necessary improvements to be made in the driving sphere. To begin, stronger education requirements need to be improved in the realm of responsibility and engagement. In Ohio, the age at which a student can be working on temporary permits is fifteen and a half, however, not everyone at that age is equal in maturity. When factoring work ethic, GPA, and discipline, a grade on driving readiness could be given to take into consideration the driving education requirement. All three of these factors can display accountability, stress management, focus, and caution. Driving is a means of everyday transport, and a fifteen-minute test isn’t enough for a lifelong privilege. Engagement in driving school should also be improved in the realm of visualization, and virtual reality (VR) can help assist with this issue. From my experience, getting hands-on driving experience was difficult with my instructor, due to the high demand and low availability. However, VR can help with this issue, both at home and in professional facilities. Take flight simulation for example, the same principle can be applied to driving. This of course should not take over real-world driving experience, but when there is a low availability of instructors, this can get some safe practice in the meantime.

When it comes to my personal driving experience, thankfully I’ve never been in a car accident, however, I surely had close calls. When I initially got my license, I had no experience driving in the snow or icy roads. One early morning, I had to go to work, but the roads were unplowed and icy. I took advice and drove slowly, however, when turning onto the entrance of work, I slid right past and lost control of the wheel. Thankfully, there was no car to the right of me, however, things could’ve gone for the worse. If I had more experience and education, I could have taken driving with more caution and knowledge on how to react in a situation like this. My father, on the other hand, had experienced an accident being a passenger, due to a fault of his friend. The reasoning behind the accident was being irresponsible and skipping school, and while turning onto a busy intersection, the driver made a move that hit the broadside of the vehicle. As a result, there was major vehicle damage and mild injuries. With proper education and discipline, this could have been prevented and there could have been no injury or damage.

Finally, what steps can be taken to both become a safer driver and help others become safer drivers? To become a safer driver, the best practice would be not to make risky decisions and make sure there is a clear and concise understanding of the rules and laws. However, if you feel that you’re not one hundred percent ready for driving, take that into consideration and get some more practice until you’re ready. To help others become safer drivers, spread awareness. For instance, let’s say that you’re preparing for a party, but before the party starts, you make sure everyone puts their keys away out of reach. This small action will prevent any risk of intoxicated driving. Let’s say you’re a parent, with a teen child that is ready to get driving. The best way for the teen to get experience driving is if the parent spends time driving together and points out signs and rules on the road. One more way to spread awareness is to investigate the stats and post them on social media, expressing personal concerns or experiences for the wider audience to see. Getting the word out can make a big change and reduce the risk of driver-related injuries and death.

In conclusion, by addressing driver’s education, issues, and safety, and incorporating personal experience, there is a hope of greater road safety. With the idea of background checks before earning a license and pre-training with VR while waiting for in-person driving school, there is a greater assurance of a more educated and mature mind. With the incorporation of my personal experience and being able to make connections, while taking the initiative of being a parent to teach the youth, there is more education to be spread to upcoming drivers and existing drivers. It all boils down to education and experience, the more of it means there is more safety on the road. No form of knowledge and gesture is too little and can make a huge difference in society.