How to Become a Safer Driver

When I was in middle school I couldn’t wait to get my driver’s license so I was able to drive myself from point A to point B. I thought that it would be so cool to be able to drive myself to my friend’s houses and not rely on my parents for a ride to school. Little did I know that driving is a tremendous responsibility and shouldn´t be taken lightly. Vehicles are dangerous and one false movement or lack of attention at the wheel can be fatal. Every year many fatal motor vehicle accidents occur because of reckless driving. Hopefully, the sheer number of fatalities can be reduced with proper driver education.

Getting your driver’s license is a right of passage for most teenagers and signals that you are maturing and becoming more responsible. Some young drivers don’t get the ability to take a proper driver’s education course and instead just study the manual then take a written test and driving test. Once you pass those tests you can be given a permit so you can drive with an adult to gain experience. Driving with your parents is not the same as driving with an instructor who has worked with a variety of students and knows driving laws like the back of their hand. This expertise is what makes a driver’s education class so beneficial. Drivers education classes are meant to be challenging which is generally why drivers education students are typically safer on the road and know the rules of the road better. When I had completed my driver’s education course I was constantly telling my parents about topics that I had learned and they said that the rules had changed.

There are no methods that will reduce driving-related deaths but there are steps that may help. The first step would be to complete a driver’s education class instead of just learning from the manual and taking a test to certify that the manual was understood. This teaches the students the material but it doesn’t indicate that they can apply the information. If classes are required then it leads to a better understanding of driver education laws. This would make the teenagers and new drivers more educated but this doesn’t apply to adult drivers who have had their license for an extended period. Once I had completed the driver’s education course I had to refresh my mom on the new rules of the road since it had changed so much. My second step to creating safer roads is to have a required driver’s education test for those every decade after their license has been acquired. This will help all people on the road to understand the laws and dangers of the road. Other steps would consist of the ban of cell phones while driving and if someone is caught using a cell phone while driving there would be a hefty fine. Distracted driving is a major contributing factor to driving accidents that result in fatalities. Taking your eyes off the road for even one second can have serious consequences. By completing these steps then there is hope for a safer roadway that will protect our loved ones.

I have not been in any car accidents but I know friends who have been in serious car accidents. It is a scary thought that you could be driving down the road then all of a sudden your car has flipped 3 times and is face down in a ditch. I may have not been in an accident but I have seen my parents drive recklessly a couple of times. Whenever I see my mom pick up her phone to text someone back when driving I offer to text the people back for her because I know how dangerous it can be to take your eyes off the road. No matter how well you may know the road and no matter how many times you have driven it there is still a chance that an accident may occur.

I am no perfect driver and make mistakes while driving as well. There are some things that I can do to improve my driving. One of the steps to become a better driver is to take a deep breath whenever someone else on the road annoys me. It is easy to let your emotions get the best of you on the road but it is not beneficial. I can also make sure that I never am on my phone while driving. This protects me and those around me. These are just a couple of things that I can personally do while on the road. To help others I could encourage them to put their phone down and tell them to drive home safely. It may seem simple and silly but telling one of your friends or family members to drive safely makes them drive so they can see you again. It’s a way to let someone know that you care about them and their safety. By learning about driver education and how it can benefit your life can help make the roads a safer place and limit the annual number of vehicle fatalities.