Name: Nazzal Naseer
From: Qusais, Dubai
Votes: 0
We
take it for granted almost every time we sit down in a car that we’ll
get out in one piece. Yet, every time we’re on the road, we’re
waiving off every guarantee of safety. We’re moving in a vessel
amongst a sea of other such vessels, all while thinking about the
quickest way to get to our destination. The scary part about being on
the road is that the saying, “The strength of the chain is in the
weakest link” holds true in the case of driving. This means that we
can try to be as careful as we can, but that still wouldn’t be
enough. The burden of being responsible for the lives of the people
on the road rests on the shoulders of everyone on the road. A recent
study showed that drivers ed is significant in reducing the
number of crashes and traffic violations among new drivers. This
study was conducted over a period of eight years, collecting data
from over 150,000 drivers. The study highlighted that those who
didn’t complete their drivers ed were 75 percent more
likely to get a traffic ticket, and 24 percent more likely to be
involved in a fatal accident.
This
is why proper drivers ed is a bare minimum when it comes to
shaping responsible drivers who completely understand the magnitude
of the position they’re in while driving.
But
completing a drivers ed is simply not enough. One way of
reducing driving-related deaths is by recognizing good driving
etiquette. This encourages drivers to be constantly mindful of how
they conduct themselves on the road. Incentives through the form of
money can be effective, as it produces a tangible reward for a
driver’s efforts.
I
write about this so passionately as the topic of responsible driving
hits home for me, as I was once a victim of a drunk driver’s
negligence. Thankfully, I was not seriously injured by the ordeal but
it certainly did shock me. I had stepped out that day expecting my
ride on the bicycle to be just like any other. But when that car came
swerving to the shoulder of the road, I had just one second to
register what was about to happen, and what possibly could be my
demise.
Ever
since then, I’ve organized groups of people who volunteer to stand
outside bars with me so that we can hail cabs and pay for people’s
rides, ensuring their safety and the safety of the innocent
pedestrian and fellow driver.
