Safe Driving – The Smart Thing to Do

Driver’s education is very important in reducing the number of deaths that occur as a result of poor driving. Driver education courses are effective in teaching drivers the rules of the road, as well as a realization of the effects of poor driving. It is important to realize that just because someone is able to pass a written and physical driving exam, it does not mean that they will be a safe driver all of the time. This is why driver’s education is so important. It teaches things about driving that may not be so obvious to the majority of people. I remember when I took driver’s ed through my high school, we watched crash-test simulations and the effects that they had on the body. We also heard real-life stories of the effects of reckless driving. It affected both the reckless drivers and innocent people that were driving near them. Especially as a new driver, these stories instilled an awareness in me for my driving, and the effects that it could have on myself and others. But who is to say how long that awareness will last? As people get more comfortable with driving, they become more negligent with the things that they do. Because of this, I think it would be beneficial to require a sort of refresher driver education course for people to be able to renew their driver’s license. Where I live, a driver’s license lasts for eight years. I believe that it would be reasonable to have people take a one-hour course in order to renew their license. This would not have to be as long and involved as the first driver’s education course, but it could be a good reminder for people to be safe drivers.

Thankfully, I have never been in a car accident, but I have witnessed some irresponsible driving by my family and friends. My grandpa got in an accident on the freeway because he was following too closely in traffic. He came out practically unscathed, and so did the people in the car he hit, but his truck was completely totalled. You would think that being in that accident would have made him a more careful driver, but he is still quite reckless when he is driving. I have been riding with him before in instances where he has been very close to getting in another accident, and it is really scary. I think he would benefit greatly from a quick refresh on driver’s education. There is certainly a happy medium between being too cautious and too reckless when driving, though. One of my friends is a highly cautious driver to the point that she second-guesses her driving choices as she is making them. Riding with a driver like that can be equally scary, which is why driver’s education also teaches about driving defensively. It is important to be able to ‘take charge’ of your vehicle when you are driving in order to be safe, and to recognize your rights and responsibilities on the road. You need to acknowledge the power that you hold when you are behind the wheel, and use it wisely.

I cannot say that I am a perfect driver, but I do take steps and precautions to reduce the hazards of getting in an accident, or getting injured in one. Something that I believe is most important is wearing a seatbelt. Even if I am only traveling a few blocks, I put it on immediately when I get in a car. This is something I learned from driver’s education that a lot of our older drivers did not, or do not remember. I also obey traffic laws by following speed limits, stopping at stop signs and lights, keeping a following distance of at least 3 seconds, and using my turn signals with plenty of warning time. These are things that every driver should be following, but I notice on a daily basis that a lot of people do not. I witness people speed through stop lights, and cut off other drivers in their lanes without signaling nearly every time I drive, and it is scary to know that even though I am a safe driver, I could be harmed by someone who is not while I am driving. There is not a whole lot that I can do to control other drivers, but I try to set a good driving example for my passengers and the drivers around me by following the rules that I learned from my driver’s education course.