Driving Education Promotion

Driving Education Promotion

When drivers are educated about driving regulations and laws, they will be aware of what to do and what to avoid. Learning about road signs helps them understand the cautions and instructions of which a particular sign implies.

Other than theory, they also have an opportunity to be in a car on the road and to feel how fast a car should go in different circumstances according to the law. They also learn that if they accelerate too fast, exhaust fumes will come out and, hence, emit carbon dioxide into the air, which contributes to global warming as well as causing harm to others on the road, both drivers and pedestrians. These facts can appeal to the conscience of drivers to not be reckless while behind the wheel. It is similar to education since it also empowers the minds of individuals: Driver education creates safe drivers.

One essential step to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is definitely, therefore, to educate drivers, which could be conducted as workshops. Such workshops usually incorporate practicality into lectures as well as some discussions. Therefore, they are more interactive than seminars and lectures. Moreover, those who receive speeding tickets should be educated instead of being fined for traffic offenses because it is more sustainable to train motorists and change their mindsets than to punish them.

Driver education can also be included in the school curriculum. Young people can receive driver education as early as 12, even before they can drive because some families teach their children some of the fundamentals of driving earlier than their eligible age. Once they reach the legal age, the cost of the driving course should be affordable and accessible to everyone to prevent illegal drivers who do not have enough money to enrol in a driving course.

In addition, safe driving discussions should be on the agenda in parent-teacher meetings so that people can share their driving experiences and explore the issues related to driving further. What is more, in a particular Socratic circle, there should be at least one victim or the relative of a road accident to inform and discuss the matter with them.

Another training alternative could be a requirement to be re-tested to keep licenses. There are a lot of older people who are too old to drive. It is not safe, but they are allowed to continue being in control of a vehicle. Traffic regulations change over time, as well as vehicles, and, thus, it is not sensible to only have one single test and then get a license for the rest of a person’s life.

The other way of reducing deaths on the road would be to decrease the number of drivers. If there were fewer drivers, meaning fewer cars on the road, there would be fewer road accidents. People should be encouraged via public transport campaigns to commute on public transit such as trains or buses instead of cars. Aside from that, citizens can also be supported to become remote workers. This way, they would not have to commute to work as often as they do, and, therefore, there would be less chance of accidents on the road.

With the advent of technology, it should be used more widely in detecting speeding, and there should be an immediate action appearing suddenly when a car is over the limit, such as automated bumps, which will be activated only when the car drives too fast. Further, road safety such as clear traffic signs and better construction of foot paths can save pedestrian lives. The placement of the signs is also important. For example, speed limits notifications should be placed on a particular lane or on a highway board above a certain lane to ensure fast and slow cars are on different lanes and prevent overtaking.

In my home country, Thailand, we drive on the left, which is the opposite of that in the United States. There was one time, late at night, when I was on my way home and about to turn right to my apartment’s entrance. Admittedly, I did not look at the right mirror before turning because I was reckless in thinking that it was too late and there were no vehicles around. As I was making the turn, a drunk motorcyclist attempted to pass on the right. He was supposed to do that on the left. His motorcycle then plowed into my car. It is the biggest car crash I have ever had. At first, he was going to get some money from me. Fortunately, he only had minor injuries, and the security camera in front of my apartment managed to record the accident. The evidence pointed to the fact that it was his fault, and he was also drunk. Instead, he then got arrested. It was fortunate for me that the apartment had a security camera. Otherwise, I would not know how much compensation I would have had to pay him. From that point on, I have became a safer driver and always remember to look in my side mirror before I turn.

To be a better and safer driver, I need to regularly check my car’s condition because if my car breaks down in heavy traffic, other people on the road will be affected by having to change lanes to pass my car. To avoid congestion, I will always have to use technology to set up notifications for me to leave early for certain appointments. Some apps have a function of calculating the commute time so that I do not have to be in a rush while driving. I should also use navigation tools to explore the traffic in different paths before departure. When everything is well-prepared, then pressure is eliminated.

Additionally, I do not drive under the influence of alcohol or when I am sleep-deprived. I make only necessary phone calls while driving as conversation is very distracting. Also, I try to stay focused on my surroundings and not to zone out. A hands-free driving device should be installed in my car as well as sensors on the outer four corners of my car. The device is to be installed so that I can concentrate more while driving and talking on the phone at the same time, and the sensors can warn me if I get too close to a particular car since drivers will have blind spots at some point. To enhance safety further, front and back car security cameras can help in case anything happens because they contain records of our driving as well as the cars around us.

I also need to manage my emotions to avoid road rage. To stay calm during traffic congestion it is necessary to find something to do within these intervals. Moreover, I should put myself in other drivers’ shoes, have patience, forgive and give way to others first most of the time to avoid conflict. Most importantly, I will try to obey the traffic law, such as reducing speed in community areas to set an example as a law-abiding citizen to other drivers.

Carpooling is what I plan to try in the future because it is better for the environment and equates to fewer vehicles on the road. When travelling to the countryside, I normally ask my cousin to come with me if she is available so that we can share a ride. This can help cut our travelling costs and carbon emissions.

Safe driving can be promoted via education, and it can then reduce the number of road fatalities as a result. I was an irresponsible driver before, but I will start changing my driving habits further to show people that driving safety starts from an individual level.