The Importance of Safe Driving and Life Impacts

The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving is learning that all types of transportation on the road relies on each other to be able to function smoothly. Whether we realize it or not, we interact with most people in their vehicles every day to be able to get to our destinations. If we are not careful or confident in our driving skills, things could turn out not so good. Acts such as looking both ways before you cross a road and making sure you are coming to a full stop are ways that we help and protect ourselves and other cars. Unfortunately, I live in an area where it is common for cars to neglect the rules of the road. It is imperative for me to take extra caution every day while driving and while walking. Steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are stressing the importance of basic driving rules such as wearing a seat belt no matter the distance, staying alert to all your surroundings, and avoiding distractions. A broad solution to this would be to conduct a mandatory drivers test at certain age levels or instances with basic and advanced questions compared to the original. In Kentucky, we take a multiple question test that allows a minimum score of 32/40 to be able to drive on the road. This means that if someone were to get this score, they will have passed but that is eight questions that this new driver does not know, and they are being put on the road where they will eventually come in contact with one of the scenarios in the question they missed. Granted, once passed, you are required to drive with an adult who monitors the driving, but this can be detrimental to the driver. There is a written test taken at the age of 16, a physical drivers test only 6 months later and a driver’s seminar to get your full license. At this age, when you’re eager to get on the road, all information goes in one ear and out of the other on the terms that you pass. Once you have become a legal driver, all the rules that we have learned become semi-transparent and we only remember basic rules. This is not safe for new drivers as they are not used to the patterns of older drivers, and this is not safe for current drivers as we do not expect some of the errors or mistakes of new drivers. I have never personally been in a car accident but unfortunately, I have come very close to it many times due to the errors of other drivers. I have family members who have experienced car accidents and the result of them has been the mistake of the opposite driver. Steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver are limiting distractions while driving such as eating or checking for things inside the car while driving. It is also important to keep your view clear such as making sure your seat, mirrors, and steering wheel are straight and at the right height so that you are able to see. More steps that you can take are taking extra precautions on the road to watch yourself and other drivers. This could mean taking the extra step to still look both ways, even at a green light or driving in the slower lane if you feel that you are in the way of other drivers or if you just want to be safe and drive at a slower pace. Some steps that we can take to help others become safer on the road are communicating with other drivers using things such as hand signals or car signals that help to navigate around the road instead of acting off impulse. We often act off impulse when driving as sometimes it is extemporaneous. If we take the same route to school or work every day, it is hard to assume that something could go wrong at any moment. I have given multiple reasons and occurrences that show the fact that driver safety is important, and we should exercise caution when being on the road not only as drivers but as passengers and pedestrians. As I do now, I will continue to stress the importance of driving safely and the dangers that come with it as you could possibly risk the life of anyone even if your thoughts are not automatically drawn to this.