Driver’s Ed in Modern America

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

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

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

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

Did you know that from 1990 to now, almost 60 million more people have drivers licenses in America. Vehicles and transportation has also revolutionized since 1990. Although there has been a major increase in the number of people driving and the number of vehicles produced, driver education is an aspect of transportation that has not been maintained very well. This is counter-productive because people are able to pass drivers tests with very little knowledge about the fundamentals of safety, sustainability and overall vehicle recognition. The importance of driver education can not be understated in a time where the number of drivers is gradually increasing. I am able to stress this matter to an extent where I think drivers should be educated on the vehicles mechanics, parts and should basically know their way around their own vehicle. Additional to that I believe that for the safety of every individual on the road it is important that every driver has a yearly maintenance check on their vehicle and a physician to check their body to examine them and see if they are physically and mentally safe to drive. I address this with urgency and significance because I am the victim of reckless driving also I have seen many lives fleet away in second due to unsafe driving. My father was giving me a ride to the gym where our car was parked on the right side of a two-lane road which was not busy at all. Upon the car being stationary, my father and I were exchanging a couple of words and then we got rammed by a car behind us going 50 miles per hour. The driver had passed out at the wheel because of physical or mental condition that I am still unaware of and he drove straight into the rear of my father and I. The driver sustained a broken hip bone because of the impact after the crash. He also sustained a concussion from hitting his head on the glass and shattering all of it. If he had been driving a car that was not old and made of weak material I am afraid to say that the impact could have pushed my father and I down a deadly cliff. The importance of a persons well-being, especially a driver, is very understated in a world where humans are prone to injuries and death related to driving. In many cases I have been a passenger in a vehicle of driver that is reckless and irresponsible. In cases like these it is very important to remind them of the speed limit on the specific road. What I have found to be very important in cases of being a victim of irresponsible driving is either to not distract the driver by yelling and trying to convince them to drive responsibly or to contact for help. When a person drivers irresponsibly they believe that they can sustainably drive like they do and be unaffected by it also as effect nobody in the car. In most cases these people are adrenaline seekers and they need to be told to slow down and be reminded of traffic laws. In other cases when you have no control over the person driving it is useful to be quiet and allow the driver to clearly think while he is in motion. This is for drivers that you know you can not persuade. After the ride, however, you should never step foot in their car again since you know that your health is on the line when you enter their vehicle. To personally become a better driver on the road you must understand the weight, size and potential of your vehicle. For example, if you are in an SUV you must realize that the higher your speed is the higher your chance is to crush a smaller vehicle on the road upon impact, also as flip your vehicle over due to large wheels. Upon recognizing your vehicle and becoming familiar with the regulations and limits. As a driver it is important to keep all of your attention on the road which includes looking at your mirrors as much as you look at the road information of you. I say this not to take attention away from the road information of you, but instead to highlight the importance of being aware of ALL of your surroundings at all times. I can not stress the importance of spatial awareness while driving enough. Many fatal crashes occur because people are not fully aware of their surroundings when making a turn or a slight move. Awareness of surroundings also helps you become advanced in driving and recognize moments where you need to make sudden moves to dodge a driver headed right at you or to prevent a crash. Overall I think it is very important that the United States of America implements new strategies to measure if people are physically and mentally trustable at the wheel. Deaths and serious injuries can be decreased exponentially by recognizing the large reasons and the solutions to irresponsible driving.