Safety relating Driving Education

Each year, despite driving education being widely taught and required by law, each year over 42,000 people die in relation to car accidents. That is over 120 people every day who die in car accidents. With that being said, there are many important reasons that we have for driver education. When driving education is widely taught, it is more likely than not that drivers are to be inherently more cautious when driving as they are comfortable driving and know the laws needed to do so. This would thus lower the number of deaths that occur when driving.

If driving education was not taught at all, the casualties and deaths that already occur would likely increase astronomically. Before doing any driving education, the majority of people feel as though they already know the basics of how to drive. Driving education reveals if they understand how to do so in a safe manner. Steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths by driving would be yearly tests, much like the written permit exam that we already take, to prove your knowledge of road laws. Today, you only have to take the written permit test until you pass it.

After passing it, you will not have to retake it again. I personally feel that having a requirement in place that makes people retake the permit test ever so often would make the roads a lot safer. Another thing to take note of is that after driving for so many years, people begin to feel as though they know everything they would ever need to know regarding driving. In reality, it is likely and quite common that you will forget many of the laws that were included in the permit test. Having people retake the test would refresh their minds on the laws, making the roads a bit safer.

Another step that would reduce the number of deaths and accidents related to driving would be a requirement to retake the driving portion of the exam every few years when you reach a specific age. In 2016 my sister was involved in a car accident collision where she was tragically hit by a car while out on a run and passed away. My sister was only 20 when it happened. It was an elderly woman behind the wheel, who was going much too fast regarding where she was driving. This incident greatly impacted me, as well as my family members, through my life and the decisions I make.

It has also led me to believe strongly in the idea that elderly individuals must prove their ability to drive safely. Many elderly drivers are convinced they can still drive. Yet in reality, at times they struggle with their vision, fail to notice their speed, and have a high risk of having a medical emergency while behind the wheel. While it might seem selfish, or wrong that others may still drive while having these problems, many elderly individuals believe that they have nothing and can not do anything if they don’t have the ability to drive. Driving gives you the ability to go places and see the world that without driving, you would not usually see.

As well as giving you the chance to do things you do that you do not usually think twice about in everyday life. Some of these include getting groceries, visiting family, or driving yourself to doctor appointments. There are a few solutions to the problems mentioned above. Creating different ways those of an older age could get around could help them not feel worthless and stuck in one place. One of these may include more forms of public transportation that can meet the accommodations for the elderly.

The steps that I can and do to be a better and safer driver is to always follow the rules of the road. That includes following the speed limit, always stopping at stop signs, and always avoiding unsafe drivers. Another important thing is if you are impaired, get a taxi or call a friend to drive you instead. Getting behind the wheel when impaired is not just risking your own safety, but everyone else that is driving safely as well. To help others be better and safer drivers, you could politely remind them of speed limits if they are going over them. You could even explain they are making you uncomfortable, putting emphasis on why it’s important for them to drive safely, especially if they have passengers in the car with them.