Driving Safety

Anna Umphrey

DmvEdu.org

29 November 2020

Driver Safety

Driving education is vital to the safety of all drivers and passengers on the road. Having educated drivers who are aware of the dangers getting behind the wheel poses, decreases the probability of driver related deaths. Having courses, a paper/online test, and a physical test to make sure that drivers are informed and prepared to drive safely is a major component in driver safety. There are many dangerous situations that arise when driving and being informed can help drivers react in a safe and responsible manner. Informing drivers of the dangers of drinking and distracted driving helps reduce the chances that they will take those risks and harm other drivers or innocent pedestrians. Knowing how to drive properly is extremely important when behind the wheel of a sturdy metal object hurtling down paved roads at speeds that could paralyze or kill upon impact.

There are many steps that could be taken to reduce driver related deaths. Starting with receiving one’s temporary license, I believe that the information received should be more thorough with more depth. I also believe that upon receiving one’s temps and license, the recipient should be required to repeat their paper and physical drivers tests every two years. The inconvenience this poses is insignificant in comparison to the safety it reinforces. Drivers should have to prove that they are capable of driving safely and recalling proper road rules. In order to fully prepare drivers, I would suggest adding a weather section to the physical driving test in which students must navigate through blinding sun, heavy rain, and thick snow. This would simulate a real world situation that could be extremely dangerous to drivers and those around them if they are not prepared to react to the obstacles brought on by these situations. Students should also have to attempt to safely drive in a simulator while facing real world stimuli such as distractions from friends or family, beer goggles, texts, etc. This would teach firsthand how unsafe distracted driving is. By giving students a firsthand, interactive experience, the lesson will better resonate within them and they are less likely to perform such risky behavior while on the road.

I personally have never been in a car accident as I have been fortunate enough to never come into contact with a distracted or reckless driver and I follow all of the driving safety guidelines myself. However, a very close friend was in a car accident last year while driving herself and her little sister to school. The roads were slippery and the rain was pouring down heavy drops the day she had her accident. As she approached the traffic lights going about 35 miles per hour, she failed to realize that the cars in front of her had not yet begun to move despite the green light. She became aware of this a moment too soon and stepped on the brakes just in time to prevent serious injury but not in time to stop the crash. Her front end smashed into the rear of the car in front of her which then cascaded into the rear of the car in front of that. The airbags deployed and no one was injured, but the cars were badly damaged. This experience reinforces the relevance of my previous suggestion to create simulations or real experiences with an instructor that would take students through real world stimuli. If my friend had factored in the heavy rainfall and had not assumed the cars in front of her were moving, she would not have endangered her own life and that of her sister. Providing drivers with the knowledge to handle as many situations as possible is a doable and reliable way to decrease deaths caused by driving.

To become a safer driver myself, I practiced in all forms of weather with my parents before driving on my own. I also wear my seatbelt in the correct position and insist those who ride in my car do the same. I refuse to let those around me drive while intoxicated or distracted. I also keep my music at a low enough level where I am able to hear sirens as well as other happenings on the road that may require a specific driving response. I encourage others to review their driving education once it begins to fade and advise them to remain in the proper sitting position while driving to remain as alert and safe as possible. Becoming a safer driver is incredibly important in today’s society where cellphones and intoxicants are so widely used and marketed. Informing drivers of the potential dangers they may come across, and requiring drivers to properly prepare for those situations are ways to improve driver safety and reduce death rates. Knowledgeable drivers are safer drivers and safety is the most important aspect of driving.