Education is Prevention

Wow! If I’m
not the perfect person to write this essay, I don’t know who is.
My name is Chloe and I have been driving for eighteen months. I have
learned the hard way how dangerous operating a motor vehicle can be.
I have thought a lot about my driving mistakes and have gone over and
over in my head what I can do differently.

Driver’s
Education is the most important class one may take. As I sat in
class it never occurred to me how much I was actually learning. Our
parents also help teach us, but they are not drivers ed teachers.
Drivers ed is the only place we can be sure that all the important
points are addressed. This is where there is extensive education on
drinking and driving, texting and driving and how to manage a car
that is sliding on the ice. It makes we wonder how many more driving
related deaths there would be without drivers ed.

Two months after
I got my license, I was in a car accident. I was in stop and go
traffic and hit the car in front of me. I wasn’t doing any of those
things I am not supposed to do while driving, but I was driving a
stick shift car. I simply just didn’t realize I needed to start
slower and stop faster. This resulted in totaling my car; thankfully
no one was hurt.

I realized
drivers should be specifically licensed to drive a stick shift. When
I took my driving exam, I used an automatic car. There are a lot of
extra driving techniques that one needs to know to safely operate a
stick, such as feathering the clutch or proceeding when on a hill
without rolling backwards. Having more education about safely
operating a stick shift could have prevented my accident.

A second step that can be taken to reduce the number of traffic
related deaths, is to have videos playing in the license bureau.
While waiting your turn, why not have a TV that plays short driving
related educational videos? I am a firm believer that education aids
prevention.

I mentioned I have gone over and over in my head what I can do
differently in regards to my own driving. I think being present in
the moment while driving is huge. Educating drivers to reflect on
what it is that personally contributes to them becoming distracted
behind the wheel, would be helpful. Is it fatigue, stress, loud
music? Again, education is prevention.

• What
  is the importance of drivers ed in reducing the number deaths
  as a result of driving?

• What
  steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to
  driving?

• Have
  you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen
  your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

• What
  steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help
  others become safer on the road?