Fundamentals of Driving

Driving in America is a luxury often overlooked. Everyday millions of Americans depend on motor vehicles as a means of transportation. With the frequent use of this technology, it is easy to forget the dangers presented while driving. Too many Americans lose their lives due to a car accident and a change must occur to prevent future deaths by motor vehicles. To put a stop to these casualties, America must provide more advanced driver education programs and enforce stricter guidelines to those who choose to drive. Americans must also understand driving is a privilege and not a necessity. We must drive responsibly.

My personal experience with driver’s education was easier than I thought it would be. I participated in an online self-taught course provided by my school. I believe all drivers education courses should be allowed in-person only to be sure everyone is attentive and fully understanding the content. Driving is too dangerous to trust everyone will take it as seriously online as they would in person. Online it is easy to not value the importance of the lesson and to get lost in the amount of information you are expected to understand. Also, when completing my course, I found that I was more cautious about driving when given real examples of what could occur when driving recklessly.

 I have been a passenger in numerous car accidents – over six that I can recall – none in which the car I was riding in was at fault. I have a fully developed understanding of the dangers of a car accident. One car accident I was sadly involved a driver was under the influence of alcohol. Shortly after the accident, I watched as the drunk driver poured out his open containers of alcohol that were in his car before the police arrived on the scene. Luckily, he was assessed, and it was determined he was drunk which led to his arrest and him to be at fault for the vehicles he damaged. Providing real-life examples such as the one I experienced will help others understand the dangers of driving recklessly and how it impacts others.

Another concept that should be taught in drivers education is what you should do if you are in a car accident. It is good to try to prevent these accidents, but accidents still occur. Part of the dangers of a car accident is not knowing what you should do after. In one car accident I experienced, the car I was in continued to sit in the driving lane. Many would not know to get out the vehicle and walk over to a safer area to prevent further danger and from getting hit again. It is best to get out of the car in case it is smoking because that is a good indicator it may catch on fire. Another thing that could be dangerous post-car accident is not knowing you must call the police and wait until they are present for further instructions. The actions that should be performed after being in a car accident are very important to keep everyone safe. 

Deaths from driving will also be decreased once we implement better driving regulations. In my state of North Carolina, an individual can begin driving by themselves as early as 16! This I believe is way too young because many teenagers at that age are not mature enough to be in control of a motor vehicle on their own. The age to drive alone should be raised higher to ensure safe roads. In addition, after a certain number of years driving, the driver should have his or her skills reassessed to be sure he or she is still competent enough to be trusted driving.

Lastly, I must mention the importance of always wearing your seatbelt while in a moving vehicle. Even if you want to take off your seatbelt just to sleep in the backseat you must keep it on for your own safety. An accident can occur at any time, and you must be sure you take the proper measure of wearing a seatbelt to minimize the damage that can result. A seat belt could save your life one day.

I take cautionary measures like the ones mentioned above to be sure I am never at fault in a car accident. Additionally, I do not drive when I am drowsy, angry or sad because these can have negative affects on my driving ability. I encourage others to also be sure they are comfortable driving and do not feel pressured into driving. Though some of these precautions may seem like common sense, the lack of common sense could very well take someone’s life.