Driver’s Education and Personal Experience, Key to Safe Highways

Driver’s Education and Personal Experience: Key to Safe Highways.

Thinking about how I got on the road and how much road safety means, I feel that driver education is greatly needed for the number of deaths occurring on our roads to be reduced. Much more than learning one’s driving skills, this is an inculcation of a certain mindset of safety and responsibility.

These are experiences that are so real throughout my life, right from seeing my family members engage in reckless driving to near accidents involving me. Events like these have really shaped my understanding of the need for safe driving practices and what we can do to make the roads safer for everyone.

Driver education instills the essentials to highlight safe driving methods. It focuses on teaching the driver mechanics of driving while considering the conception of rules in traffic, the need for awareness of situations, and cultivating a culture for defensive driving. Personally, roadway rules learned have proven to be very beneficial. It made me understand that driving is not just getting from point A to B but actually, it is a means of taking care of oneself and others present around. One of the biggest aspects of driver education is an emphasis on defensive driving. This approach allows drivers to foresee hazards and react, rather than reacting when it’s too late. In my driving journey, I’ve come to be more proactive. For example, there have been times when I’ve noticed drivers swerving or behaving erratically. Driving education inculcated the habit of keeping a distance and expecting them to act out most unpredictably.

Unfortunately, this view is not shared by everyone. Observations have shown some owners running their Ford Mustangs at alarming speeds, often well over 100 mph. This is unsettling, not just for the owners themselves but for anyone else on the road. It is extremely sad to see people exhibit this type of risky behavior. Every time they speed down the highway, it forces me to think about the horrific consequences that could occur—not just for them but also for other innocent drivers and passengers. This reckless behavior calls into urgent question the need for a driver education program which covers much more than just driving skills but, more importantly, psycho-sociological analysis of risk behavior. One harrowing incident happened when I almost had a rear-end collision with the car in front because I was driving, and my mom was navigating. I was distracted, didn’t know which way to go to make a right turn, and suddenly found myself too close to an accident. That was a good wake-up call that truly made me realize how events could deteriorate at any time on the road. The feeling of adrenaline with such incidents brought out how significant a decision as a driver is. The incident also points out how important it is for one to stay focused and make fast and correct decisions. Driver distraction is relatively common and often results in disastrous results.

There’s one particular situation that sticks in my mind: when my parents were driving me to elementary school, a careless driver tailgating us finally crashed into our car. Fortunately, the situation wasn’t serious, and nobody got hurt, but it somehow struck me with its force. It reminded me of how predictable road conditions might get and how thoughtlessness can get in the way of the lives of others. This somehow strengthened my belief in a driver’s always being watchful and attentive to his or her surroundings. Furthermore, I have witnessed negligence that not only affects the drivers themselves but pedestrians and cyclists as well. Sometimes, people litter on highways, which can cause perils to unsuspecting drivers. These small cases simply highlight the need for civic-mindedness and responsibility toward keeping our roads safe. It involves not only the ability of one to drive but also how collectively a community can work to produce safer communal settings. Acknowledging the importance of safe driving is just the beginning; it’s in its implementation that lies a lot of difference.

Proactive steps an individual may consider to improve driving behaviors that ensure safety for others on the road include education, raising awareness, defensive driving, minimizing distractions, encouraging safe driving behaviors, and leading by example. Education involves maintaining an understanding of current traffic laws and modern driving techniques. Refresher courses can help solidify good practices and retain competence of skills. By raising awareness, one can share his or her experience with friends and family as a way of creating a safety culture. Through discussions about responsible driving and the consequences of one’s actions, an individual can persuade others to develop better practices. Most importantly, one should practice defensive driving day to day. This is not only keeping a safe following distance but also being observant around the driver and anticipating other drivers’ moves. These best practices greatly lower the probability of accidents. The second thing is making personal efforts toward minimizing driving distractions. These are things like silencing phones, avoidance of eating or drinking, and focusing on the road. As such, this greatly lowers accident risks. The promotion of safe driving practices can be extended to create safer roads; this can be achieved by relaying unsafe driving practices either to friends or family members. It is important to have open conversations, for instance, telling a family member to slow down or reminding friends not to use their mobile phones while driving. However, the best way to promote safe driving is by practicing it.