On The Road To Safety

Driver education has been seen as helpful in reducing the mortality rate due to driving by educating learners with adequate knowledge, skills, and awareness of being able to make right and safe and responsible decisions regarding safe transportation behind the wheel. New drivers are required to be aware of the rules of traffic and the necessity to observe the speed limits, among other aspects of driving. In addition, driver education teaches defensive driving skills, the risks of impaired or distracted driving, and the penalties of dangerous habits like tailgating and reckless speeding.

To reduce death on the highways, several options can be considered. First, improving access to good driver instruction courses can enable all drivers and especially inexperienced drivers or young ones to have tools necessary to drive properly. Personally, since my family did not have the money to put me in a driving school they taught me themselves. I had to study very hard for my permit exam which I took online. I did two lessons a day and finished in about two weeks because I was very eager to earn my learners license. I have always been a responsible person and would never put myself and especially others at risk. So, I would take the lessons seriously and take my parents’ advice to heart. To this day after three years of driving, 1 with an adult, and two by myself, I have never been the cause of an accident. The only time I experienced ‘an accident’ was very recently about two months ago. I was at a red light and as soon as it turned green the person behind me accelerated before I even let go of my break so they hit me from the back. We pulled over at a Walmart and luckily there was no damage to either car. I still took the lady’s number in case I noticed something big later because it was late at night, but later when I told my parents they were so upset at the lady because it was a completely preventable situation. I was so infuriated though because this was a grown woman who carelessly hit a 17-year-old that could’ve easily been prevented. Either way I learned from this experience and knew to call my parents if this happened again and surprisingly remained calm during this experience. Secondly, stricter restrictions on speeding, seatbelt usage, and operating a vehicle when intoxicated can limit drivers and refrain from risky maneuvers. Third, education concerning the dangers of distraction, for example, sending text messages when driving, has the potential to make drivers pay attention to what they are doing. Even since I started driving I have never texted or used my phone while the car is moving, only when I am stopped or parked. I have seen so many accidents and saved myself from many just by being a cautious and extremely attentive driver. I have seen many people start to drift over to my lane and I honk or switch lanes if permitted. When I look over most of the time the person was on their phone. It makes me so irritated to know grown adults and of course teenagers as well don’t take into consideration the dangers of using a device while driving. Even if one thinks “Oh it’s just for a second”, one second can change one’s and others lives. Lastly, sophisticated automotive technology in manufacturing automated braking, lane-keeping, and collision warning systems helps drivers prevent accidents.

To be a better and safer driver, first of all, maintain your focus on the road while driving and avoid having a cell phone in hand as it can distract you. Always follow traffic laws, wear your seatbelt, and drive at appropriate speeds for the road conditions. Also, a good driver keeps their vehicle’s distance from other vehicles and is alert throughout. This is so important because you never know what could happen. There could be something you can’t see in front of the driver in front of you and they could just switch lanes but by being so close behind them you can put yourself at risk to collide into what the other driver is avoiding. It is also essential to know the conditions that could affect your driving, such as weather, tiredness, or intoxication, and modify your driving to suit those conditions.

By being a role model, I can make others road-safe. Making friends and relatives adhere to traffic rules, avoid distractions, and never get behind the wheel after drinking can be a good beginning. I never let my friends use their phones when driving. Adults I can’t exactly ‘control’ but I do voice my concerns and it does sometimes make a difference. Being a support base for driver education classes and road safety policies can also be an influencer in instilling the culture of safe driving in my community.