The Importance of Being a Safe and Educated Driver

A permit and license is all it takes to grab your keys, turn on the engine, and drive off anywhere and everywhere. Whether it be an elderly man with poor eyesight or an eager teenager excited to race other cars, both are at risk to hurt themselves or others. Forget about hitting the curb or tree, you can hit a child running into the road to chase their ball. We often hear about car crashes and accidents on the news, in a way we’ve almost become desensitized towards it. Especially if you live in a crowded city like Los Angeles, it’s easy to brush off this terrible news. Yet these accidents become very real once you’ve witnessed them yourself. What will it take for people to start acting safe on the road for themselves and others?

If you are under 18 years old and want to get a driver’s permit and ultimately a license, taking a drivers education course is a requirement. Driver’s education prepares you to take the permit test. But it goes beyond that. Driver’s education teaches you how to become a responsible driver for yourself and others. In the driver’s education course, you learn about traffic laws. Including traffic signals, pedestrian signals and signs, and right-of-way rules. This ensures that drivers know the law and therefore prevent accidents. Secondly, you will learn about road safety. For example, road conditions, importance of seatbelts, and managing your speed. These topics develop the driver being knowledgeable of what to do in emergencies and how to contribute to safer roads. Third, you will be taught about your responsibilities as a driver. This includes driving under the influence, insurance requirements, and what to do if you are in or report a collision. Being aware of the consequences of accidents, drinking and driving, and texting and driving will make sure you behave more responsibly behind the wheel. Knowing all of the above will help reduce the number of deaths resulting from driving, as you will know why these accidents occur, and how to prevent them.

We can’t control other people to become better drivers, but we can improve our own driving habits. A single person can make a difference, and you can be the one who changes a life or death situation. Similar to many aspects in life, knowledge is key. Your knowledge can determine whether you land your dream job or not, or if you get accepted into your dream university. As previously stated, driver’s education teaches you all the essentials of driving. No matter your age, it’s better to educate yourself and be safe than sorry. But there is only so much knowledge can do, you have to put it into practice. Seemingly small actions such as slowing down, developing the right attitude, and double-checking your vehicle is safe can end up saving your life.

I luckily have never been in a car accident. Yet I have been in multiple situations where I have almost gotten hit by a car. In two of those incidents, it was in the same place in the same manner. The first time it happened, I had just gotten off the bus from school. I take two buses to get home from school. After getting off the first bus I walked towards the corner of the block to cross the street to catch my other bus. Once the stoplight turned green and the little walking figurine appeared on the screen, I looked left and right and began to walk. Then I sensed a car approaching and turned around. I had barely been able to get a couple steps away from the curb when the car had tried to make a right turn. The car had not stopped to see if there had been pedestrians crossing the street, it simply turned as if it was the only one on the road. I froze and stared right towards the car that was only a couple feet away from me. A few weeks later it happened again in the same spot. It was as if I had time traveled into the same situation from a few weeks behind.

At the end of the day, nothing will change unless we take the first steps. To become a better and safer driver, we must acknowledge where we fall short. Whether it’s making wonky left turns and little experience driving in bad weather, we must come to face our faults and improve them. Nobody is perfect, but a small improvement can make a big difference if we all decide to act on it. To help others become safer on the road, if you are in the car with them, make sure the person is in the right state of mind to be driving, and don’t upset them. Don’t boldly criticize a person’s driving, but kindly let them know you care about staying safe.