Importance of Driver Education

Driver education is important in reducing the number of deaths from driving. We learn history so we do not repeat our past mistakes, and similarly can be said about driving. The more we learn about driver safety, the more rates of risky driving will decrease.

With technology becoming more advanced, it increases the chances of being distracted by electronics while driving. Texting while driving is most common, but now cars have Apple CarPlay, or Tesla’s have screens where you can play games and watch Netflix shows. It is important we educate the dangers of these distractions while driving. Even if it may be a small glance off the road to look at a device, it could end in an accident. Putting away all distractions while driving allows us to have our entire focus on the road, which makes us more alert to our surroundings to actively drive safely and avoid accidents.

Severe weather is also a dangerous factor. Rain makes the road slippery as well as ice, so when those conditions are present, it is important we reduce our speed to avoid losing control of the wheel. Flash floods are also dangerous. Even if the body of water may seem small, it is not worth driving in and getting your vehicle stuck. There is a popular saying, “turn around, don’t drown” and it is great advice to follow to ensure we are safe on the roads.

Driving while under the influence is very dangerous, and in most cases fatal. If you are drinking, order an uber or have a friend or family member who has not been drinking drive you home. Alcohol and other substances impairs our cognitive ability, especially driving. Educating drivers on the danger of driving under the influence can prevent fatal accidents from occurring.

Even driving when we are feeling tired can be dangerous. Driving late at night or on lack of sleep impairs our ability to focus and increases the chances of falling asleep behind the wheel. If you are tired, it is best if you do not drive so you can avoid falling asleep or losing focus on the road, which can lead to accidents.

Following the speed limit set in place aids us in preventing accidents. The faster we drive, the higher the chance of an accident occurring. Often while driving we may pass a sign that says, “slow down, save a life” which reminds us to check our speed. When driving, follow the set speed limit and make sure you have enough space between you and the car in front of you. If the car in front of you suddenly stops, you need that space so you can react quickly without hitting their car.

Seatbelts are designed with our safety in mind. If we get into an accident, our seatbelts may be the factor that can save our lives. They are there to hold us in place, so we do not go flying out the window if an accident were to take place. It is important to buckle up and to remind others in the car with us to put their seatbelts on as well so we can safely remain in place.

There are many steps we can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. We should start teaching safe driving practices and the dangers of driving to young adolescents before they start driving. Having drivers’ education courses in high school can provide students’ knowledge on the importance of safe driving practices. Making driver education courses mandatory before obtaining a license can ensure all drivers learn the importance of following driving regulations to avoid accidents caused by factors like drinking while driving, texting behind the wheel, risky driving in bad weather, falling asleep behind the wheel, etc. By learning about dangerous driving factors, we can prevent ourselves from engaging in them to avoid accidents and reduce the number of deaths caused by driving carelessly.

A year ago, I was involved in a minor car accident. I was driving in the passing lane on the highway and another car tried to merge into my lane without looking and sideswiped my car. Thankfully there were no injuries or major damage to either vehicle. Though I may not be at fault for the accident, it reminded me of the importance of having no distractions and being aware of my surroundings while I drive. After this experience, I always look carefully before moving lanes and pause before moving forward at a light to make sure another car will not run a red light.

Steps I can take to become a safer driver myself is to follow driving laws. Not speeding, putting away all distractions, and focusing on the road while driving. When I am driving with others, I can remind them of safe driving practices as well to make them aware of the dangers. If I am in the car with a friend and they pick up their phone, I can remind them that being on their phone while driving is dangerous, and I can offer to send a text message for them, so they stay focused on the road. Educating myself and others is the key factor in preventing accidents and deaths related to driving. By learning about the dangers of driving, we become more aware of how we are driving and can assure that we are driving as safely as we can.