In The Driver Seat

In The Driver Seat

Occupying “The Driver Seat “is an important privilege that shouldn’t be taken lightly. This undertaking requires the driver to have obtained certain skills, capabilities, and judgment to be worthy of the driver seat. Drivers must be able to effectively handle the automobile and navigate the roadways, all while making safe and decisive decisions whenever necessary. Driving is a necessity and to some recreational and pleasurable, but is not to be engaged in with a care-free attitude and a beclouded mind. The automobile is a very powerful machine, capable of causing extreme and irreversible injuries or death when handled carelessly. As a result, anyone intending to occupy “The Driver Seat” must be capable of safe-handling the machine and must also be knowledgeable and aware of road rules and driving etiquette.

Driving on public roadways and highways is a privilege granted by the State to individuals in the form of a Driver’s License and permits. Such individuals must achieve a certain degree of competency, which is achieved through passing a state-issued test at proper testing facilities and through the completion of state-issued programs like “Joshua’s law” after proving capability to handle the automobile in a confident and safe manner while adhering to the rules, signs, and ethics guiding the movement of the automobile on public roadways and highways. These include respecting signage, electronic traffic devices, speed limits, and compliance with State rules and ordinances. Any driver that continuously violates these rules and regulations can have their driving privileges revoked and incur severe fines.

Stressing the importance of safe driving cannot be overstated. Every year, thousands of people die as a result of driving or accidents caused by drivers, some of whom may have been careless, distracted, or poorly educated on the importance of road safety, proper driving techniques/standards, and driving ethics/courtesies. This calls for the need and importance of “Driver’s Education”. Young drivers, especially teenagers need to be given proper training and orientation on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for vehicle safety as a driver. A proper “Driver’s Education” can play a significant role in reducing the number of motor accidents caused by young /teenage drivers. As new occupants of “The Driver Seat”, a great number of young drivers are ill-equipped to deal with the multitude of factors necessary for safe driving. Adequate “Driver’s Education” can help new drivers learn essential skills needed for the safe operation of motor vehicles- skills that may help them maneuver their way out of an obstacle or prevent an accident and thus, reduce the number of injuries or death on our roads. Also, successful “Drivers Education” creates a feeling of accomplishment in new drivers, thereby, contributing to their confidence as the new occupant of “The Driver Seat”. It also creates a sense of personal responsibility by stressing to new drivers that, “lives are in your care” when you occupy “The Driver’s Seat”. Moreover, “Driver’s Education” ensures increased awareness of hazards consistently on our roadways and how to mitigate them and create a better and safer driving experience.

In as much as, individual responsibility is a very important step towards safe driving, in addition to this, there can be policy changes in laws on how new drivers are on-boarded into our driving culture. For starters: “Driver’s Education” can be made an essential part of the High School curriculum, taught only to juniors and seniors in our High schools. This will contribute to the maturity and consciousness needed to be a good and safe driver. Also, learners Permit and provisional licenses should not be issued until the 17th birthday, and full driving privileges should not be granted until the 18th, birthday. The current practice where 15, and 16-year-olds are granted learners permit and permanent driver’s licenses should be abolished. These simple steps can help in reducing the number of deaths related to driving accidents caused by young and inexperienced drivers. In addition, parents can install devices in motor vehicles to control the maximum speed that the vehicles can reach. This will help curb unnecessary speed among young drivers and help ensure that they are driving at a controlled and safe speed.

As a driver, having situational intelligence and the ability to make quick and decisive decisions is an essential skill to safe driving. Decision-making while driving requires a focused mind, and the mind must be focused on one thing only – driving! Therefore, driving distracted is not only dangerous but irresponsible. It is, however, not uncommon for some drivers to be engaged in other activities while driving. A personal experience I once had, was with my older cousin. In this particular instance, she was driving and applying make-up to her face while the traffic was slowly moving. She had one eye on the road and the other in the mirror applying her cosmetics to her face. The car was moving gradually, but suddenly the car in front of her stopped, but because she wasn’t concentrating on the road, she sped up and hit the car in front. Although this was a minor accident, more serious accidents have also been caused by others driving distracted. Some people have had serious accidents because they were texting or responding to chats on social media and some of these accidents have been very fatal!

Personally, apart from enrolling in driver’s education, I have decided to take additional measures to ensure that I am well equipped and ready to take “The Driver Seat. Upon my request, my parents enrolled me in a defensive driving course. This program exposed me to an array of potential driving situations that could put drivers at risk. I learned how to calmly react to unexpected situations, how to take better control of the vehicle while anticipating or responding to driving situations that could put myself and others in danger unexpectedly. I also believe it is of paramount importance to know your vehicle and make sure all safety devices are functioning as expected. The right air pressure is as important as driving with a clear windshield and working windshield wipers. Likewise, I ensure that my vehicle has adequate friction on the brake pads, as well as my headlamps, have adequate brightness and right focus. I also considered understudying a parent driver for about 3 months an integral preparation to being a good and ready occupant of “The Driver Seat”. By having this experiential learning, new drivers are able to see how real situations are safely handled, and thus gain the requisite knowledge to develop the right situational intelligence to respond to similar/unforeseen situations when driving on their own.

Young and new drivers also have to understand driving terrains and changing weather and potential hazards that could ensue, if proper driving skills are not applied. Wet and rainy weather, for instance, requires a modified driving approach and a higher degree of caution and focus. Speed control is of great importance in wet weather situations. Of similar importance is how you slow the vehicle down in wet weather. Sudden application of the brake is strongly discouraged in wet driving conditions, as this could cause the car to skid or hydroplane. Rather, gradual deceleration and steering control is needed to maneuver wet roads. The emphasis on wearing a seatbelt and maintaining the right distance from the vehicle in front of you can never be overstated. Seat belts have saved many lives, even in the worst of accidents and proper distance gauging gives you the necessary room to make adjustments to your decision-making in emergency situations.

In conclusion, being in “The Driver Seat” is an important responsibility that should not be embarked on without the proper education, understanding the safety rules, and having the right emotional and situational intelligence to respond to the array of situations that the driver may face on the roadways. Young drivers especially, teenagers must be given the proper training and orientation on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for safe driving. As stated earlier, including “Driver’s Education” in the high school curriculum as well as increasing the age of full driving privileges to 18 could help in onboarding more mature and disciplined drivers into our driving culture. This will also help in reducing the number of accidents caused by young/teenage drivers. Most high school students will not be getting the licenses until their graduating years from high school.