Our Growth in Life Through Driving

November 25, 2020

Driver Education Initiative 2020: In the Driver’s Seat

Bryan Blowers

The Processes of Life – Through Driving

Driver Education, as in all practical scenarios, is necessary in some form, whether learning martial arts, shooting, practicing mock interviews, or tools and shop, there is always an education process. Without that process, you might injure yourself, misuse a tool, have an unappealing interview or application, or possibly kill yourself based on the circumstances. When driving, there are hundreds of different possibilities of outcomes every second you are on the road, whether as a driver or passenger. Are you distracting the driver? Are you, the driver, not paying attention? What was that shadow that went into your blind spot? Can you see properly through your mirrors? Are you sober? What are you anxious about? The answers to each of those questions could lead to an accident or worse. When we are not fully attentive to our immediate surroundings, we can cause an accident. And when we are focused on other issues or stressors in our lives, we can lose focus of what is at hand, especially when it is driving.

I personally have never been in an accident or participated in any form of irresponsible driving, and both of my parents combined have had a total of one count of reckless driving, which was a speeding ticket. Because of Covid-19 and the lockdowns, much of my behind the wheel learning has been from my father on the empty roads, which I believe has been an extremely beneficial as a starting point. When my father was growing up, his mother (my paternal grandmother) was blind. He was the middle child of three boys, yet he was the first driver of the bunch. My father would always take m grandmother out when he drove, for both their sakes. Because my grandmother was blind, my father had to be very cautious, gentle, and attentive to both the road and to her as to not scare her whilst driving. This impact has made him one of the best, most aware, drivers I personally know. That reasoning, along with the fact we get to spend quality family time together is why I believe his instruction is so beneficial to my driving abilities.

Although technology may be advancing, companies are working on self-driving cars, and we have already implemented many driving assists, we should not let those devices to allow us to be lax in our driving, we must always be vigilant and attentive. I may have been a bit naïve, but I believe if each person were to learn to drive, or have vast experiences, in a manual, classic, car, so we could learn all the basics in the hardest scenario. By starting off with no assisting technology, you are forced to rely on your senses and driving skills, and when you master those, technology will only improve your driving and help build on those skills. Another way of improving the abilities of drivers is to have a regulated camp as the military does. Current driver education programs are constituted of ten, three-hour classes and six to ten hours of driving time with an instructor. However as mentioned in the background for this essay, the military, though it understandably has a different function, has months on end of basic training where they break down and reform the soldiers habits to create uniformity, efficiency, and quality. We could take inspiration from them and increase the rigor, and practicality of our current driving education, as to express the importance and value of proper, safe driving, and the understanding of all road safety laws. I believe if people relied less on technology, had a better, more practical education, and a good role model to learn from, they could learn anything.

Driving today, in my opinion can be boiled down to three things, attention span, willingness to learn, and reliance upon outside forces. My generation, though not alone, is now one of the most addicted and reliant upon technology, which has become one of the largest hinderances while behind the wheel. With the will to resist the temptations of social media, and the ability to see beyond what the systems within the vehicle say, we could all be much better and aware drivers. We would understand why the vehicle does what it does, and how to fix it when it breaks down. This will to learn about such topics as automotive maintenance and repair, as well as proper manners, as what to do or not do while behind the wheel, is the basis for how we turn out as drivers and as people. Self-reliance, openness to education and growth, as well as proper behavior and etiquette are at the core of society and of the driving world.