The Importance of Driver’s Education

Driver education is imperative in the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike. Every driver needs to have defensive driving techniques and be proactive to prepare how to handle different driving scenarios. There also should be public awareness for every driver because driving has changed over the years as well as roads, laws, and vehicles. By using various media, including television, radio, billboards, and social media, we can reach a wide audience and reinforce key messages highlighting the consequences of reckless driving and the importance of safe practices. For me one of the steps to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is education of drivers behind the wheel. It is important because drivers must be physically and mentally fit to ensure the safety of all passengers that are commuting in everyday life. We also need to have appropriately implemented speed limits that control the speed of the motorist to ensure the safety of pedestrians. Speeding is one of the leading causes of accidents, so drivers must be aware of the speed limits. Another one is distracted driving which means that when a driver is texting, talking on the phone, grooming, reading, or even eating while driving, our brain is switching between tasks and unable to consistently focus on what is ahead. That is why we need to focus on the road because our brain is incapable of focusing on more than one task at a time. Do not drive much in adverse conditions for a while. I am not saying to never do it, but for example, rain can make a tremendous difference in visibility of road features. If you are a little bit uncomfortable driving in dry, light conditions, on a dark and rainy night you will have a lot more to process and mess up. And if you do, drive on roads you are familiar with. I have had my share of accidents that happened while I was driving negligently. On my own accord, it was a minor accident that could have been avoided if I had been more focused on my driving. I was devastated that I could not even drive for a week and kept on thinking about why I was not competently reacting to what was happening on the road. We also need to be aware that on our daily commute, someone is always going to do something that might upset you. Do not react and try to let him know how angry you are, that is road rage. A method that works for me is every morning when I leave for work, I always think that something might happen that will make me mad even more. Then when someone pulls out in front of you from a side street and makes you hit the brakes, instead of getting mad and reacting, just be calm and continue driving in a normal manner. If you do this, you will find out that you have a lot less stress. Do not worry about getting even on the road, because you cannot unless you place yourself in danger. Always be aware of what is going on around you and do not assume anything. This includes what is going on up ahead as far as you can see and all around you. Use your mirrors and peripheral vision. what the drivers and pedestrians around you are going to do and therefore be better prepared to respond. Keep your distractions to an absolute minimum, which of course means not fiddling with your cell phone as well as your GPS. Overtaking another car is again an art which you can master with time. You must believe in your abilities, trust your car, and have a good sense of judgement. My recommendation is play safe. Do not overtake unless you are sure to make it. Once you start driving, you will automatically get better at it. If driving happens to be a part of your job, you might consider using a solution that will let you know if you have been behind the wheel too long and need to take a break. Being tired takes away your concentration, especially if you are going long distances. Experience is not everything in driving, as many situations are exceedingly rare. But in common situations, experience is extremely valuable. It will take you a while to learn a lot of subtle skills. You will not even notice that you are learning them. They will not feel important. But they are. When you are driving, pay attention to mistakes you make and try to correct them. Pay attention to etiquette. Pay attention to the behavior patterns of drivers, and do not let them ruin your day. Driving becomes more like a routine over time. You need to respect that while it becomes more routine, it only takes a fraction of a second to change your life forever.