Even Passengers Need Courage

Drivers education is important in reducing the number of deaths from driving due to the education it provides you in the classroom. It also allows you to gain valuable experience driving with an experience, educated driver to show and explain the rules of the road.  Most importantly, it’s not your parents. The instructor can also explain the reasoning for the rules, and give examples of what could happen when you violate road rules.  By knowing the rules of the road, experiencing them and actually understand why they exist arms you with the what consequences could occur if you do not obey the rules of the road. Going to drivers education classes also allows you to have real life practice driving with an instructor. This is usually in a controlled environment like an empty parking lot. This allows drivers to gain confidence and when the instructor thinks the driver is ready, they will take them out to a less controlled environment like a neighborhood that has stop signs and streets to turn in and out of. Finally, not until the instructor feels the driver is ready, the driver gets experience in real traffic and will be helped to make decisions while driving. I can not imagine anyone getting behind the wheel to take their license test without this experience. It is so valuable for learning and safety.

There are several steps we can take to reduce deaths related to driving.  Many of them are common knowledge, however are highly abused, such as speeding, cell phone use, aggressive, driving, and simply always wearing your seatbelt while in a vehicle.   We can also take the extra time to educate ourselves by reading about driving safety. We can also watch videos on YouTube or social media sites to educate us on driving safety. I have attached a YouTube video that is very educational and heart breaking.  It’s a father speaking of his daughter’s, tragic, fatal car accident. Years ago, she attended the high school I attended, which made this story close to home. Jacki’s Story – YouTube. I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes and watch it. It is extremely powerful.  I think about Jacki when I get in any vehicle to drive. It reminds me that life can change in an instant with one bad or questionable decision.

I have only been driving a little more than two years so far.  I have witnessed strangers, my friends, family members and even myself do things while driving that I know should not be done.  Fortunately, I can say I have not experienced or know anyone who has been involved in a serious car accident. Unfortunately I can’t say that I haven’t been involved in minor fender bender accidents that resulted in minor scratches on a vehicle.   I learned from it, and make sure I am more careful in parking lots because of that experience. I am lucky that nobody was injured and the damage was minimal. However, if it wasn’t for a fatal motor vehicle accident, 40+ years ago, I would have another uncle in my family. My mother‘s brother was killed in a single vehicle accident driving home on his 18th birthday. Even though I was not alive and did not know him the effects on my family I still see and can feel today especially on the anniversary of that accident. I wonder what he would say to me right now if he could. I wonder how his life would have continued if that accident hadn’t happened. What if it had been just a close call and he would have been able to live to tell about it? It just isn’t fair.

There are several steps we can all take to become safer drivers, as well as help others become safer/better drivers. By just using simple common sense and by following the rules of the road. Keep your eyes up and your phone away. Obey the speed limit and don’t be in a hurry to get somewhere.  My father always says “you can not make up time driving fast, get there safe.”  Be the friendly driver and allow the car beside you to move over.  Use your turn signals.  These simple yet effective habits would go a long way to make the road safer.  Not only do we personally need to utilize these rules.  But when we are passengers, we need to have the courage to educate the driver when we witness them, using their phone, speeding and displaying aggressive driving habits.