Driver’s Education

Driver’s Education

For as more teens and adults obtain their permits and licenses, the need for proper driving education and etiquette is essential. Learning the rules of the road will not only guide drivers of all ages but will also enhance the protection of all those on the road, regardless of their component or method of travel. The main purpose of driving etiquette is to create a safe environment on the traveling roads across the world. In fact, various car crashes, accidents, and deaths that have happened on the commuting highways are likely to have stemmed from preventable measures that the drivers did not learn early on. Such tragic situations are important for all drivers to be aware about, as every life traveling on either side of the road is precious.

To start off, in order to combat the rate of car accidents and deaths, many road authorities are pushing for common regulations to be further established. Simple factors such as refraining from texting and driving, staying focused on the road, and even choosing not to drive if the driver is tired can go a long way in road safety. Taking preventative measures like such can reduce car crashes to an all-time low.

Thankfully, I have never been physically present during a car accident, but I have witnessed the result of one a few years ago. It was already nighttime, and everyone in my house was asleep when we suddenly heard a loud crashing sound from outside. You see, we had a dark blue SUV parked in an abandoned driveway that was diagonal to our house, and unfortunately, that was the main target of where a reckless driver rammed into. However, I now believe that accident, in which the reckless driver luckily did not sustain major injuries, was meant to happened considering the blue SUV was not the best choice for my family.

Moving on, according to an unsettling estimation from ‘DriversEd.com’, nearly one third of all car crashes and accidents are stemmed from some variation of irrational human fury typically referred to as “road rage”. For those who are unaware of the driving term, such a label is used to define unprecedented aggression and frustration a driver may feel while driving in unforeseeable conditions with other drivers on the road. This feeling is commonly depicted as belligerent behavior that can range from loud and impatient honking to even physical altercations between multiple motorists on the road.

The issue with road rage and the behavior it encourages is that it is simply unacceptable. Based on a blog written by Lena Borrelli on the site ‘Bankrate’, about thirty murders are disturbingly committed each year in regard to such anger. When a person behind the wheel is more consumed with getting vengeance after being cut off from another driver, rather than paying attention to the road itself, the intensity and potential dangers that reside on the driving pathways increase dramatically. The moment a road-raged filled driver makes the decision to make a seemingly small matter more serious than it needs to be, everyone’s safety is put into jeopardy, which is an inexcusable endangerment to others.

Regarding teens, and for most young drivers in general, internet-app sensations like Instagram and Twitter offer various forms of entertainment and social networks that one cannot help but enjoy. At times, however, it may seem difficult for young individuals to tear their eyes away from their screen and pay attention to the outer reality around them, which presents a dangerous problem in the driving world itself. According to an estimation from ‘Teen Driving Source’, about thirty-nine percent of drivers who attend high school admitted to being engaged into some form of distracted driving stemmed from being on the phone. To add onto that, a blog written by Joel Feldman for the popular driving-safety site known as ‘EndDD.org’ writes, “Distracted driving disproportionately affects teens with more than 50% of teen crashes now thought to be caused by distracted driving.” Such unsettling research only puts into perspective the dangerous commonality associated with teen drivers and car crashed caused by cell phones, but how can one solve such an issue?

Well for starters, the simple phrase, “Do not text and drive”, is probably one of the most frequently used quotes spoken when advising teen drivers. However, because such a phrase has been heard so many times, the urgency and responsibility that it is supposed to harness has desensitized teens into interpreting the advice as a simple and non-effective way of “nagging”. To combat this issue, I believe new tactics should be implemented to once again regain the attention and recognition of the younger audience, such as creating a new phrase. In fact, according to a blog on the site ‘Zapier’, one of the best ways to enforce information for others to learn is to utilize various forms of mnemonics. By doing so, one can take an old lesson and revamp it into a new way of delivery, but can keep its familiar objective. For example, having a catchy jingle like “No text, won’t be next” can be used to psychologically and unconsciously get young drivers to remember the dangers of distracted driving by hearing such a memorable tune that rhymes.

In response to the various dangers mentioned above, some steps I can take to be a good driver, as I myself am working towards obtaining my permit, would be understanding the ways of the road and getting lots of practice in. I, like everyone else on the road, want to get from point A to point B without any conflict, so I must exercise my learning of driving and the responsibility that comes with it. Managing my emotions and being aware of all possible scenarios that I can encounter while driving are some of the best life-saving techniques for all drivers.

To invoke a concluding end, those who drive are likely to encounter all types of different motorist while traveling to their destination, however, it is essential that everyone traveling through the lane remains well-behaved and civil with one another. Being well educated with the fundamentals of driving can completely improve the atmosphere of driving as we all know it. Afterall, everyone just wants to get home safely, but no one can pass through a road if you are too busy fighting or texting on it.