Driving Toward Safer Roads

Ex-president Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. I think this is particularly true with regards to road safety. Through proper driver education, we can reduce the number of fatalities caused by reckless driving.

Driver education is more than just learning how to drive a car. It teaches drivers to anticipate potential dangers, understand traffic laws, and make sound decisions in difficult situations. It should also adress the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as well as distracted driving. A well-educated driver is more likely to follow speed limits, avoid distractions, and be aware of the safety of pedestrians and other road users.

Although driver education is an important part of road safety, there are additional steps that can be taken to reduce the number of driving-related deaths.

I grew up in South Africa, a country where road accidents are common, and the road fatality rate is high. In South Africa, the road fatality rate is 22.9 per 100,000 population, compared to the 12.9 per 100,000 in the U.S. When moving to the U.S. earlier this year, I expected people to be much better at driving and adhering to the rules of the road. However, I was shocked to see that speeding is the norm rather than the exception. On my second day in the U.S., a crossing guard was hit by a car and tragically killed at a middle school in my school district. About six months later, another crossing guard was hit by a car in front of my high school and seriously injured. Both accidents were caused by speeding.

Even though speeding is common, I have not yet once seen a speed trap or a speed camera. The sight of drivers ignoring speed limits, especially in school zones where children’s lives are at stake, made me realize that stricter enforcement is needed to encourage safer driving habits. In South Africa, speed cameras are installed everywhere, especially at places where people tend to speed, or where there is high pedestrian traffic.

I also think that the speed limit in school zones is too high. At my school, the school zone speed limit is 35 miles per hour. It is too high for an area where there is a lot of pedestrians, including children. In South Africa, the speed limit in my school zone was 30 km/h, which is less than 20 miles per hour.

I think the U.S. should introduce more speed cameras, and even average speed enforcement on the interstates. By lowering speed limits and ramping up in enforcing those speed limits, I believe that fatal road accidents will be significantly reduced. Fines should be high and can then be used to fund road safety training and awareness programs.

As a new driver, I had to attend an 8-hour driver’s education training. Both are very good initiatives. The problem is however with older, more experienced drivers. I think often experience makes people complacent. There should be awareness programs that reaches all drivers, regardless of age and experience level. The best way this can achieved is by visual reminders of the consequences bad driving behaviors. For example, a wrecked car can be placed in an open space next to a busy road with a sign that states “SPEED KILLS”.

Fortunately, I have never been in a car accident, but I have witnessed friends and family members take unnecessary risks on the road, such as speeding or not wearing seat belts. These experiences have made me very aware of the importance of being a cautious and responsible driver.

To become a better and safer driver, I think one should lead by example. This means always obeying traffic laws, staying within speed limits, avoiding distractions, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Developing defensive driving skills, such as maintaining a safe following distance and being alert to the actions of other drivers and pedestrians, can also help prevent accidents.

In conclusion, driver education is a fundamental aspect of road safety, as it empowers people to be able to make safe decisions while in in the driver’s seat. Education should however not be limited to new drivers. Education and awareness are important to ensure that all drivers avoid bad driving behaviors. Road fatalities can be further reduced by a combination of lower speed limits and stricter enforcement measures. We can all play a part in creating safer roads by committing to be better and safer drivers.