Education: The Key to Safe Transportation

Education: The Key to Safe Transportation

Terror is tangible when an 18-wheeler slips into another lane, just moments away from the car behind. Breath is stolen when a navy sedan makes a turn that hits too close to home. The moments before crossing a four-way intersection hold the tension of a thousand public speeches combined. What if I get hit? Will he smash into me? Will someone run the light? These situations present fear to the most experienced of drivers. However, for those new to the roads, they can cause skyrocketing anxiety. Teens who find themselves uneducated on how to handle uncomfortable and even dangerous road situations face a higher likelihood of making poor decisions–and subsequently getting into a vehicle crash that costs them and others their lives. However, with substantial training both behind the wheel and in the passenger’s seat, both teens and adults can become equipped to make the best possible decisions so that driving-related deaths can be reduced.

While I have never been in a serious accident, I have experienced terrifying moments on the road in which I was cut off, had to stop suddenly, or was passed by someone traveling well over the speed limit. If I were not prepared and educated properly, these situations could have been fatal. Education is prized in the fields of mathematics, science, and literature. As one of the most important skills in the modern world, driver education must be prioritized with the same urgency. Not only does it inform drivers of ways to avoid unintentional mistakes, but it also warns against intentional acts that cause many to be the cause of a crash, such as drunk driving, drug use, and the distractions of mobile phones. When teens can drive with confidence, their minds can be occupied not with fear, but with surveying their surrounding situation. Online courses, articles, and videos from reliable sources play a large part in teaching safe driving. They allow drivers to view situations on the road before potentially entering them, providing an opportunity for accessible and informative learning. In addition, these resources promote memory of traffic signs, as well as rules and regulations, so that drivers can focus on arriving safely to their destination rather than attempting to recall the meaning of a particular sign.

New traffic laws and devices designed to prevent accidents are life-saving and essential. However, if education in young drivers in and outside the home is not emphasized enough, no rule or device will be able to have its intended safety effects. Parents, guardians, and even driving instructors must do their part by modeling safe driving, explaining what to do in potentially difficult situations, and informing their teens of the many choices they will face that can affect driving, all in a way that reflects genuine care. They should also make new drivers aware of the many statistics that portray the dangers of driving. These preparatory measures will even allow students too young for a learner’s permit to prepare to exhibit skill on the road once they are able to drive. Not only that, but when adults are conscious that their student is gaining from them a lasting impression of how to drive, they are more likely to make better decisions, such as refraining from phone use and from multitasking. 

Information is the key to safe transportation. While no one can predict what will happen next on the road, it is possible to be prepared to handle it. As I continue to drive, I desire to observe my parents’ driving instead of using my phone in the car, ask about possible scenarios, and continue to read from scholarly sources that keep me grounded in the fact that driving is more than mere transportation: it can be a matter of life and death. I also hope to model safe driving for my friends and younger siblings so that together we can create a safer road system for each and every citizen. With training to handle difficult situations, warnings against factors that increase the likelihood of a crash, and a positive driving influence, new drivers (as well as experienced ones) can transition into the driving world with confidence and safety.