Drivers Ed & Its Importance

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving?

Driver education serves to be a helpful tool in protecting drivers from unsafe practices

and danger on the road. Learning proper handling of your vehicle, along with adhering to the laws, helps to keep people on the road safe. The in-depth skills taught within driving school serve to protect and ensure the safety of others. Drivers who are lacking in the proper fundamentals can attend a school near them. These lessons help focus on teaching defensive driving, street sign and signal meanings, as well as the importance of control. Aside from aspects that can be controlled within the vehicle, driving school also helps to establish good habits. This includes promoting no cell phone usage or distracted driving, as well as saying no to intoxicated driving. Overall, driver education helps to raise awareness of the many possibilities of risk and danger that can be encountered on the road. It also outlines strategies to maintain safety and promote defensive driving, which will reduce the number of deaths related to accidents.

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

Increasing the number of awareness campaigns for safe driving would result in a decrease in deaths related to traffic accidents. Making sure that drivers are aware of their decisions, including the consequences, will help them to be more informed while on the road. Driving awareness campaigns taking place on social media, billboards, or live events will convey the importance of safe driving to a larger audience more effectively. Aside from awareness campaigns, a more strict enforcement of the traffic laws will help to deter any unsafe behavior. The reason for this is that the drivers will associate their negligence on the road with the risk of a hefty ticket or fine. Some methods that will ensure the safety of other drivers on the road include: increased police patrols, more sobriety checkpoints, as well as advocating for no distracted driving. The outcomes will lead to a heightened awareness while on the road, and in turn, will contribute to a collective environment of accountable drivers.

Additionally, automobile manufacturers should be held to a higher standard, where it is mandatory to include safe-driving elements in their cars. This should include blind-spot alerts, increased braking power, and acceleration limiters. For example, blind spot warning technology contributes to a 23 percent reduction in lane change injury crashes. This goes to show that the safety features of a vehicle instill more confidence and safety within the driving experience, and can prevent injuries from occurring. With the House of Representatives sharing the ideologies to make vehicles safer, it has been determined that if the necessary technology was implemented into future cars, 11,000 deaths would be prevented annually. These technologies include automatic braking and lane departure warnings. These technologies would be most effective at slower speeds, where contact with civilians or other vehicles has the highest chance of being prevented or stopped.

Have you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

I have not been in a situation where I have encountered a car accident. However, I often observe my peers speeding, running through red lights, or acting against what posted signs instruct. Speeding is usually the main violation I witness other drivers doing, and the reasons always vary. In my situation, it entailed me observing a classmate speed to school, as they were just about to miss the bell. They were traveling above the posted speed limit and stood out amongst the crowd of safe drivers. This was not a safe driving practice, and should not be repeated. It is important to know that being a few minutes late to class is a much more desirable scenario than risky behavior and putting others, including yourself, in danger.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?

Practicing mindfulness and being aware of your surroundings while driving is something to never forget. Adhering strictly to traffic laws, including speed limits, greatly contributes to safety. Some examples of this that are commonly overlooked include not using seatbelts, phone usage, and any activity that takes your eyes off the road. To combat this issue, turn your phone off while driving, or take a call rather than answer a text. This will help to minimize distractions and have you thinking about the situation in the current moment. Additionally, always make it a priority to use seatbelts while driving. It should be the first thing you do once you step into the car, and it shouldn’t be removed until the vehicle is at rest. Finally, the most important step is to follow the laws and be accountable for your actions. Many steps can be put in place to ensure the safety of yourself and others, but your overall intentions while driving determine the outcome that will occur. This being said, make an effort to drive safely everywhere you go, as well as advocate for others to do the same whenever possible.