How We Can Help Curtail Yearly Car Accidents

Driver education is extremely important in the reduction of driving-related deaths. One problem that causes a high number of car accidents is that people do not know the rules of the road, and do not know driving courtesy. People choose to do things such as illegal lane changes or u-turns all of the time just because they are impatient. They ignore signs and blow by stop signs and it causes more and more problems, especially now as permit tests are able to be taken online, and therefore can easily be cheated. By teaching people what different signs mean, they are able to understand what is happening in front of them and they are able to either stop, yield, or watch for something rather than speeding by and causing an accident. Beyond this, when people are taught about driving in the elements, such as snow or rain, they are able to understand and comprehend the situation around them so they do not turn an already dangerous situation into a catastrophic one. In order to reduce the number of accidents per year, there must be certain measures put into place to ensure that reduction can be maximized. First of all, the permit test should not be allowed to be taken online. What was once seen as something that needed to be studied intently is now thrown aside by younger drivers who can simply do it at home and cheat. By choosing to practically ignore the permit test, young drivers lose a lot of important information when it comes to driving, such as knowing what certain signs mean or proper driving etiquette in four-way intersections. Secondly, there should be check-ups for licenses every few years as a way for people to prove that they still know the laws of driving and don’t forget vital information that is needed to create a safer environment for all drivers. It can also suspend those who don’t know and therefore can reduce the number of unsafe drivers on the road. Finally, the punishments for breaking the laws of the road should be much harsher than what they currently are so that people don’t brush little fines by as worth the chance that they get pulled over. The threat of a higher punishment will scare people enough to follow the laws. Proper driving etiquette is something that should be taught and should be a part of all license renewals as well. I have personally been in a car accident before, and it was the fault of the other driving not respecting the laws of the road. I was at a four-way intersection on a major road, and I had a green light. I went to turn right as the light changed to yellow, and as I did the person across from me turned left as I turned right, and tried to swing into the right line where I was turning into, and hit me off of the road. This is a great example of why proper etiquette should be taught and reminded of, because it applies to so many different scenarios and my situation is one that is probably much too common. Personally, one step that I can take to make sure that I am a better and safer driver includes not getting annoyed with the backup of heavy traffic. I can sometimes get irritated with the backed up and slow traffic, and by choosing to remain much more calm, which could keep me from making any sort of irrational decision.