The Driver’s Seat

Driver education plays a significant role when it comes to reducing the number of deaths as a result of road accidents. The essence of providing drivers with driving education is to provide them with the much-needed skills, knowledge, as well as attitudes for vehicle safety, that is, both as a pedestrian and as a driver. This is informed by the fact that studies have indicated that younger drivers who fail to complete driver’s education are more likely to get a traffic ticket, as well as get involved in fatal road accidents (Elvik et al., 2009). In this regard, therefore, driver’s education seeks to familiarize them with road safety precautions to avoid getting involved in road accidents that may cost people’s lives.

Authorities in charge of providing driver’s education have the role to come up with measures that can help reduce the number of deaths related to driving. The authorities need to ensure that they do not come up with complicated steps that may be confusing to drivers, especially the younger drivers who are most likely to cause accidents. The key steps that need to be implemented include but are not limited to the following: ensuring that drivers obey all the established traffic rules and regulations, become predictable of any impending dangers on roads, ensuring that drivers remain sober always to avoid distractions. Additionally, authorities need to put in place measures that would help to ensure that drivers get enough rest, especially those that engage in long-distance drives. Lastly, measures need to be established to ensure that drivers always steer clear of drugs and alcohol while driving. This is informed by the fact that lack of sobriety due to alcoholism has been one of the major contributors of road accidents across the world (Elvik et al., 2009).

I have experienced some of my friends drive irresponsibly. This made me to rule out the idea that irresponsible driving may be fictional. Having experienced these unwanted driving behaviors executed by my friends, I think I can boldly say that such instances are related to relaxation of traffic rules and measures. This is because my friends normally drive irresponsibly when they realize that there are no traffic officers on the roads, more so during the night. It is at this period that some of them drive while drunk. These are driving behaviors that should never be entertained as they put the lives of many innocent people using roads in danger.

I would like to share a personal story involving a car accident. I experienced a car accident recently in my Nissan Altima 2009. My mom bought me this car almost a year ago, 12/09/2020. I was so excited about having my own car and the plan was for me to keep it until I finished college in 4 years. However, to my surprise that didn’t happen because on 11/7/2021 when leaving my neighborhood on the way back to college. This teenage driver came out of nowhere and slammed into the side of my car. After coming to a complete stop and looking both ways, I proceeded to drive across the road at the stop sign. I was in the middle of crossing the road, and suddenly I hear a loud crash. Yes, it was me being hit by someone driving way to fast in a residential neighborhood. When I get out my car, I hear the other driver hysterically crying out “I didn’t see you, I’m so sorry”. My inner voice was screaming why did you have to hit me, why were you not paying attention. I am sitting in my car holding back the tears from so many mixed emotions. I look around me and I don’t see any visible injuries; however, my airbags deployed, and the driver’s side of my care is badly damaged. On the other hand, emotionally I am severely damaged. Finally, I see my dad has arrived on the scene. I sigh in relief because he will help me make sense of all this. I tell my dad what happened, and he tells me not to worry because clearly it was the other driver’s fault. The police officer arrives and takes our information. The driver in the other car tells the police officer that she did not see me and explains how sorry she was. I could hear the anxiety and fright in her voice as she tells the story. To my disbelief the police officer gives me the ticket for failure to yield. My dad and I desperately explain our story, but if falls on deaf hears. My inner voice is screaming inside why isn’t he listening, why should I have to get a ticket for this person’s reckless driving. Finally, I get home safely, and the tears fall uncontrollably because this is just not fair. My car is completely totaled out, and I get blamed for something that I truly feel is not my fault. I plan on going to court and fight this ticket. I am very passionate about telling my story to the judge and make someone see that this driver was irresponsible.

I think it is important to note that my safety as a driver starts with me. In this regard, therefore, there are different steps that I need to take to become a better and safer driver. The first step that I always need to undertake is to think safety first. By thinking my safety as well as that of others, I would be able to drive responsibly. The second step involves not depending hugely on other drivers as they may mislead me on the road. As a driver, I have the responsibility to concentrate on my car to ensure that I adhere to all the road signs. What this mean is that I should not speed in areas labeled “slow-down” regardless of whether or not other drivers are speeding at these zones. The other step that I should take involves cutting out any possible destructive behavior while in the car (Elvik et al., 2009). This may involve switching off my phone if I establish that it might distract me.

References

Rune, E. (2009). The handbook of road safety measures (2nd ed.). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.