Talk about it, Set the example and be safe

Driver education gives individuals the skills and tools necessary to be safe on the road. It gives drivers the awareness needed to manage any potential issues and risks while taking care of themselves and others inside a vehicle. It is essential for drivers to understand traffic laws and regulations to help prevent collisions and fatalities.

Driver education programs often educate drivers about the risks associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or being distracted by mobile devices. Raising awareness of these dangers makes new drivers recognize their importance and helps them avoid such behaviors. These programs also teaches drivers how to use their reflexes and sense of urgency in situations like an obstacle on the road, extreme weather conditions, mechanical failures, or emergency vehicles at service. Having these skills gives drivers the opportunity to handle difficult situations more effectively. Participating in a driver education program also helps new drivers build confidence and reduce driving anxiety before they go out on the road by themselves, which reduces the chances of preventing an accident.

Preparing a new driver encourages other members of their family to do the same before driving for the first time. This has a positive impact in our community because these lessons and good driving habits will hopefully pass from generation to generation and, eventually, have less accidents on the road and safer roads for our children.

The first step to take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to complete a driver education program. Learn about laws, regulations, emergency service vehicles, dangers, risks, safe driving practices and all the essential skills to become a safe driver. After learning all the basics, drivers should start engaging more in each topic and learn all the details. For example, understand the lines on the road, crosswalk lights, what to do when you hear sirens, what to do when there is a collision in the same road you are driving at, seatbelt use, using the signal lights on your vehicle, and much more that makes you a responsible driver. By learning all the basics and not so basics about driving, you are ensuring yourself as a safe driver and minimizing the risk of accidents and fatalities on the road. At last, create a safer environment in which we are aware of the risks and set an example for friends and family for them to practice good driving habits as well.

I am grateful to say that I have never been involved in a car accident that turned into a fatality. The closest I’ve come were two times in which my car was rear-ended. In the first incident, the driver behind me was going too fast in heavy traffic. The line at the red light was longer than expected, and they didn’t have time to brake, so their car hit mine. My grandmother was with me, and fortunately, everyone was safe with no major injuries.

In the second incident, I was at a four-way stop less than two blocks from my house, driving home from work with my son in the car, and waiting for the car in front of me to go when a young man rear-ended us. I got out of my car, walked to him and saw that he was very anxious because of what has happened. I felt very bad for him and asked if he was ok, he kept saying he was sorry and asked me if I could please let him go, that the car had insurance, and he would give me the insurance information. I said sorry, but given the situation that I was at, I was not in a position where I could do him a favor. I pulled over to the side of the road, and I let him know that I had called the police and the insurance company. He started to get very nervous and anxious and asked me if I could call-off the police. I even said sorry, that I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to call the police, but I could not call it off. When the police arrived, they asked both for our documents. I gave them my documents and he said he didn’t have a driver’s license and had never owned one. When I was advised to take pictures of both cars, I noticed that he had a California License plate in the front and an Arizona license plate in the back, so things kind of started to feel very off. After a while, the police officers informed me that he was driving a friend’s car without insurance and that he was wanted by the police in California. They arrested him and took him with them. I told him I was very sorry that things turned out that way and that I hoped things would go better in the future. He replied that it was okay and that it wasn’t my fault.

I felt so touched by that situation. I felt like I was meant to be at that stop sign at that moment, to treat him with respect and for the police to handle the situation. I believe this incident had to happen just as it did to prevent something worse from happening to him or someone else. It also made me reflect on how different the outcome could have been if he had followed traffic laws like if he had his license, his insurance and was off his phone when driving, things would’ve turned very different for him in a good way. I really hope he took that situation as an opportunity to do things right to keep him and others safe when driving.

As a mom, my contribution to creating safer roads is to follow all traffic laws, rules and regulations as a driver and citizen. It is very important to me to set a good example and pass on safe driving habits to my son, as well as to friends and other family members. It worries me to see how traffic keeps getting worse and car accidents are more common than they were year by year. Being a safe driver should be an important and repetitive talk to teenagers that are about to start driving or are already driving. It is sad to see how they wait for a fatality to happen to take it seriously. I believe in the power of example and word of mouth. I believe that by having good habits and letting people be in the copilot seat while you set the example, you are contributing to safe roads. Talk about it, set the example and be safe.