Safe Driving: The Journey of Situational Awareness on the Road

Danielle Miller

August 1, 2020

University of South Florida

Safe Driving: The Journey of Situational Awareness on the Road

Drivers ed is taught in different formats, such as online, in some high schools, and through books. Drivers ed is put in place not just to teach new drivers how to drive or what the various road signs mean, but how to be safe on the road, how to do their part in being a safe driver so they do not cause an accident on the road, which can help to decrease, and some day, diminish the amount of deaths that occur each year due to car accidents. Drivers ed, puts the idea of death into new or existing drivers for them to understand how permanent the damage can be if they continue to be reckless. When these drivers learn of the dreadful results of reckless driving with drivers ed, it is one step forward to the annual death number dropping. One more educated and safe driver each day equals one less life lost each year.

It is paramount that drivers remove distractions from themselves while they are driving, and the importance of preventing distractions should be stressed to all passengers because it can cause injuries, or it can be fatal. Drivers should consider that picking up the phone can wait; before getting into the car after having drinks or using any substances that affect the mind, drivers should consider that they may be risking their life, the lives of others, and the lifetime damage(s) that may be caused if they decide to drive under the influence. The process of removing distractions and remaining focused on the road leads the path to situational awareness. When drivers are aware of their surroundings on the road, they are able to foresee and prevent oncoming accidents, pay attention to traffic lights and stop signs, they are in a position to think quickly when placed in a dangerous situation on the road, etc.

When I was six years old, I was in a car accident with my dad and younger brother. When my dad picked me up, I told him to put his seatbelt on while driving because I learned it in school. He followed my instructions, and later while we were still driving, we got into a car accident and flipped over six times. I was told that without a seatbelt, my dad could have lost his life. He always felt that because of me telling him to put his seatbelt on, I saved his life. I told this story for two reasons: putting on a seatbelt before driving or riding in a car is a step towards preventing injury and death, due to a car accident, and we can all make a difference in saving our lives and the lives of others when it comes to safe driving. Drivers ed does not have to come from a book, an online or in-person course, or schools, it can occur every time a person takes time out their day to learn methods to practice safety or assist another person in remaining safe while driving.