In The Driver’s Seat: A Paramedic’s Perspective

In The Driver’s Seat: A Paramedic’s Perspective

We all know the videos that play during every single Driver Education Course, you know the ones with the teens that don’t wear their seatbelt, or who are playing on their phone, or the ones that show the consequences of drinking alcohol and then driving. As a paramedic, I’ve seen my fair share of car accidents varying from simple fender benders to multiple casualty incidents. It’s one of the most common calls for Emergency Medical Services and Fire Departments to receive while working, therefore making us, myself included, a great resource for driver education. As a paramedic I believe in the importance of driver education in the classroom and on the road in order to reduce deaths related to driving, taking steps in order to be better and safer drivers, as well as using my own personal experiences to help educate others and myself.

Driver education is so very important in reducing the number of deaths and disability caused by accidents because it is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In driver’s education, an emphasis is made on being a defensive driver and being able to predict outcomes by staying attentive and observant at all times to all things going on around you. Driver education courses are the foundational knowledge for most new drivers. If you have a good foundation, you are able to then build on that foundation and continue to apply more and more knowledge with each and every experience. However, if you don’t have a good foundational knowledge and strong approach to being a new driver, then it makes it difficult if not impossible to build on that knowledge. Practical application of classroom information is also another key factor in driver education to reduce the number of death and disability cause by traffic accident. A student can master classroom concepts, get perfect scores on every exam, or be the first to answer a question in class, however if they are not able to apply the concepts taught in the class then the teaching is useless. This is why actual driving hours and road time is required and invaluable. Practicing various important skills such as looking both ways before making a turn across traffic, stopping completely before proceeding through a stop sign, or being vigilant for possible motorcyclists and bicyclists are just a few examples of how important the application of classroom knowledge is while a you are physically behind the wheel.

Taking steps in order to be better and safer drivers is, unfortunately, not something we as people prioritize. New drivers are extremely cautious drivers most of the time but lack experience and how to apply those past experiences to future scenarios. People who have been driving for longer than a few years have the experience, but often times become careless and slip into the “routine” of driving the same routes and don’t account for every day interchangeable variables such as pedestrians, drivers that aren’t used to the roads, construction areas, new drivers, and those speeding while driving. Some steps that both new drivers and experienced drivers can both take are continually being attentive to changing road conditions, slowing down during the yellow light instead of speeding up to make it through the intersection, switching up the routes in which they take to get to regular destinations to remain vigilant, being aware to always pull to the right and stop for emergency response vehicles with lights and sirens on, practicing defensive driving, keeping a calm attitude even with the frustrations that may come from driving, and giving the right of way to those that have it. These simple steps can create a safer driving environment for all on the roads and therefore have the high potential to reduce death and disability caused by traffic accidents.

Emergency Medical Responders, Police Officers, and Fire Departments all have experience with seeing a wide range of car accidents such as fender benders, car fires, ejections (meaning a passenger or driver was thrown from the vehicle), pedestrian vs car, bicyclist vs car, motorcyclist vs car, pedestrian vs bus, and many more. All this to say that those of us in the roles listed above, myself included as a paramedic, know the consequences of dangerous driving. While the causes of these accidents can vary from case to case, they all have the same thing in common: negligence. Negligent to the road while driving and texting friends at the same time. Negligent to look into neighboring lanes before switching into them or not using blinkers appropriately. Negligent to check blinds spots for motorcyclists. Negligent to adhere to the posted speed limited. New drivers and experienced drivers alike both unfortunately can adopt some form of negligence with regards to driving. If we, as emergency response personnel, educate these drivers, not only in the classroom but also while on the road, of the consequences of negligent actions and the potential for death and disability that they may cause, I believe that we would have a lower rate of death and disability caused by traffic accidents.

The foundations that are taught in Driver Education are not the first thing that comes to mind when we are on the road, but they should be. By implementing the foundations taught in the classroom and applying them to real life scenarios and enforcing them, we can lower the death and disability rates caused by traffic accidents which ultimately are caused by negligence. We can help each other out when we are driving with other people, reminding them to be vigilant, observant, focused, and attentive in addition to reminding ourselves to adopt that same behavior. Finally, we can actively listen to the real experiences and tragedies of those who have seen the death and disability that can happen because of traffic accidents in order to not end up that way ourselves.