Driver’s Education Initiative: The Practicality of Drivers Safely

Driver Education Initiative

Waverly Phillips

7/23/2021

I have always had a sense of fear when it comes to driving on the road. It looks daunting and complicated from the passengers point of view. I have watched family members and others close to me make careless mistakes from distractions. I have seen our family car totaled, as well as coming close to horrendous accidents by way of other drivers on the road. I once thought that, “No, I am not ever going to drive, it’s too dangerous”. Decision making while driving looked to be a near impossible skill to learn. While in school I took a drivers education course, and it filled me with the hope I needed to build strong physical and psychological driving skill sets. It also helped to break generations of unfavorable driving habits. Driver’s education can help to recapitulate the finer points of road safely. This can increase the confidence of new inexperienced drivers such as myself, as well as those who need more assistance and guidance with retaining their knowledge base of road safety.

Driver’s education is essential in preventing negligent accidents and casualties in present times by means of providing resources which increase knowledge of roadside dangers as well as providing essential background information of the laws of the road. In the past, I have been involved in a car accident which occurred when a family member was distracted with adjusting the car ‘s heating system while actively on the road one cold winter’s morning. The driver, not paying attention to the road ahead, drove straight into an oncoming vehicle. From then on, I have been seeking ways to prevent future accidents, and driver’s education is the most efficient means of doing so. I feel that some of the most optimal ways a driver can be safe on the road are from preparing and organizing items before leaving for your destination. For example, ensuring all items that you need are within reach, and all vehicle systems are adjusted accordingly. While, in modern times, global positioning systems (GPS) received from mobile phones are a fundamental tool to travel from one destination to another, mobile phones have also served as a main component in many accidents. A useful safety feature would be to put one’s phone in a do not disturb driving mode. Driving mode temporarily blocks calls and text messages which will reduce distractions while driving. It is also important to drive with a clear mind. It is imperative to mentally prepare yourself, as well as your passengers before driving. Make the proper precautions, buckle-up, stay alert, and always use the safety tips learned and practiced during drivers education classes. It saves lives. The life of a mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter. It all starts with the fine tuned education received during drivers education courses.

One should also not be distracted by interfering emotions such as anger, fear, helplessness and grief, among many others. For example, experiencing a strong emotion may lead to not being as aware as you normally would be, such as missing important cues on the road (i.e., exits, distance from surrounding vehicles, road signs, drifting lanes etc.). Another step to reduce the number of accidents and deaths on the road would be to limit and educate the majority of individuals who fall under the category of frequent dangerous drivers such as active substance abusers, individuals with uncontrolled psychological disorders, and various others. This can be achieved by mandatory driver’s correction courses, providing psychological resources, and temporarily revoking their driver’s licence until this has been achieved. I feel I could aid individuals in creating a widespread impact of driver education information and safety by providing online and printed versions of driver’s education pamphlets and brochures to local schools, colleges, and businesses. As a passenger, I can provide constructive feedback to drivers to help them to stay focused on the road. Overall, safe driving by means of driver’s education is an aspect of driving that should not be overlooked as it provides a means of crafting a physically, psychologically, and emotionally healthier and safer society as a whole. I strongly feel that driver’s education should be a mandatory part of attaining one’s right to drive which inturn creates a more positive and safe road to drive on. Driving is an efficient means to get from point A to point B, not a way to cause unintentional harm, bodily injury, or death to yourself, an innocent person on the road, or even someone simply crossing the street. We need to be more accountable for ourselves and learn through drivers education. Let’s do it safely.