Driving Directions to navigating Road Safety

Fatalities caused by accidents on the road can be reduced by the vital role of driver education in children, teenagers, and adults. Having individuals obtain a well rounded education on safety measures to know on the road, can help prevent accidents from happening by just expanding our knowledge of driving. A comprehensive driving education program allows drivers of all ages to fully understand the rules and regulations we have to consider while driving, and teaches them the important traffic rules, signs, and experiences that are vital to a safe driving environment, with a focus on precaution. Understanding the rules of the road also allows the driver to have a sense of responsibility by giving them a new perspective, and making them aware of the dangers of driving and the caution they have to take in unexpected situations. An in depth driving lesson can prepare a driver for these unexpected situations and make an accident less likely in their case. Therefore, driver education is vital because it promotes a more secure driving environment and can reduce the number of accidents, which ultimately reduces the number of deaths as a result of driving.

Furthermore, aside from a driving education, there are other pertinent steps society can take in order to reduce deaths related to driving. For instance, the enforced, and strengthened system of traffic laws that we already have here in the United States can incentivize people to drive safer, having caution because of possible punishment. Even though law enforcement can help reduce unsafe driving by punishing those who break the law by speeding, or other forms of unsafe driving, I believe that the punishment should correlate to the severity of the accident. If our society wants people to get better, and work on their safety, we should give them a better incentive than a threat. Instead of writing violators a fine to pay, we could send them to a mandatory drivers education class. This lesson can better our community by promoting safe driving, and making it more appealing since most people would rather pay a fine than go to class for a day.

In addition, maintenance and improvements to infrastructure such as bridges and tunnels, can also promote a healthy driving environment by having safe roads and streets to drive on. Without as many bumps, potholes, dark streets or other dangers, it is certain that cars will be exposed to a secure path to arrive at their destination. Lastly, the cars themselves can make their own internal advancements and safety features with new or emerging technologies such as back-up cameras, blind spot warnings, lane departure sensors, and much more. There is new technology using infrared cameras that can be used for very low light conditions, such as late night driving, in order to see things that are hard to see in the dark. If the windshield doubled as an infrared display, it could prevent many nighttime accidents. These additions can prevent many unexpected incidents by having that extra layer or precaution to warn you when there is a potential danger next to you. Addressing these varying aspects of safety measures provides a collective effort in attempting to decrease and one day eradicate accidental deaths on the road.

Regarding exposure to accidents, although I have not personally experienced a car accident, a close friend of mine has encountered a collision when another driver rear-ended her vehicle at a stop sign, resulting in the loss of her vehicle. Even after a year, her family has not been able to obtain the insurance money for the damages. She also had to go to the hospital for her safety as well, and she was diagnosed with a concussion from the whiplash. Along with a concussion she experienced some symptoms of PTSD, as she was scared of driving or even being in a car for a while because she did not want to be involved in another accident. While her injuries were not life threatening, or greatly severe, this incident highlights the real, immediate and lasting consequences that irresponsible driving has in relation to physical, mental and financial outcomes. The person behind the wheel only had to pay a fine as a punishment, but that didn’t help in any case when my friend and her family lost more than that. If a driver’s education class would have been mandatory for the offender, it would have been more secure that she had learned her lesson.

By continuing your education about ongoing road safety, like staying informed about traffic rules and regulations ensures a driver remains aware of the best way to act while on the road. As a new driver myself, the past two years with my license has allowed me to gain experience on how to become a safer driver. I have been exposed to all kinds of forms of unsafe and reckless driving, and I always want to be aware of what to expect. There will always be unexpected situations when it comes down to driving, but it is very important for me to always be prepared on how to handle things in a split second. One second is all it takes for something to change your life. Sometimes, circumstances are inevitable, but I would rather have known I did everything I could to prevent something bad from happening to me, and others in my vehicle.