In the Driver’s Seat

From the archive years of education, driver’s education classes were offered in high school as an elective credit. We as a society experienced safer streets. Simply because the students who matriculated through the driver’s education class was aware of the rules and was acquainted with common street courtesies. Fast forward to post pandemic era, driver education classes are not as prevalent on the educational agenda. Therefore, the streets are not safer.

The step of intervention for driver’s education classes in the education curriculum is critical to the return of safety on the streets. Some drivers are not acquainted with the rules. For example, knowing the rule of stopping or moving over for emergency vehicles is a mandatory requirement for safe driving. Not only unknown knowledge of the rules for safe driving, but there are numerous distractions. Some drivers are unnecessarily on the cell phone with no place for the cell phone except for their hand. This is an unacceptable practice of neglect obstructing safety. Also, there seem to be negative knowledge of common street courtesies.

We were taught in driver’s education class to display common street courtesies in anticipating the next driver’s move. Some drivers are impatience with other drivers and show no regard for the next person. There have been reported incidents of road rage resulting in the unnecessary death of innocent drivers. Drivers should be taught the adequate protocol for safe driving above personalities. For example, signaling to move over to another lane should be courteously acknowledged and such driver be allowed to move over and not result in death of the driver.

I have a friend who stayed in the hospital for a week with a serious leg injury as a result of a dump truck colliding with the rear of his car at a stop light. His car was crushed and totaled. The dump truck driver was ticketed for failure to maintain proper control. Surprisingly, my friend was ticketed also for not wearing his seat belt. My aunt was sleepily driving home from an overnight party and ended up in a ditch. She was not seriously hurt, but the car was totaled. One night my son was driving home on the interstate and a speeding car passed by going the wrong way. The police intervened and apprehended the driver, but it was a very scary incidence. My coworker was leaving work and headed home when an intoxicated driver hit her car causing her arm to be broken. We know drunk driving is a strong offense.

Lately, there have been reports of horrendous road rage on the streets. Some drivers are being ran off the road for abruptly moving into another lane. Some drivers have lost their lives to senseless gun violence on the interstate for getting over without signaling. These accidents can only be prevented by the oppressor. There are reports of emergency vehicles not able to reach the affected individual and render first aid, because the shoulder of the interstate is blocked with cars. This is a critical violation of driver rules and safety.

As safe responsible drivers, we need to be vigilant and knowledgeable of driver rules and regulations. I will educate my granddaughter on the rules and regulations of driving. The urgency of her requiring the knowledge of safe driving will resound not only in safety but economically. Some rules that I will repeatedly express are no texting while driving, always wear a seat belt, use the rear-view mirror before backing, and give the right of way to emergency vehicles. She will certainly enroll in a driver’s education class. She will gain rules, regulations, courtesies, and also a discount on her car insurance.

Hopefully, the education department will implement mandatory driver’s education classes in the school curriculum. Some old school practices of safe driving should be utilized in the classes. For example, pay attention to the road while driving. Since the generation trailing our generation represent the future, we strive for safety for all of us. We should emphasize sound rules, regulations, and common courtesy for drivers. For example, pedestrians have the right of way. Some car manufacturers are implementing additional safety procedures in cars. Phone calls or texts can now be conducted and delivered by voice in modern cars. There are notification tones to let drivers know that seat belts are not fastened. Each and every driver safety rule, regulation, courtesy and mechanism should be honored and utilized while driving on the streets at all times.