Why Everyone Should be Educated About Driving Safety

Driving is a wonderful thing, but sadly it can also become a devastating thing. We are so lucky to have this mode of transportation but some people decide not to follow the rules and risk others’ lives. Although most of the time you get in your car, you make it there safely, there are still so many accidents. You always have to be extra aware of the other drivers on the road, just in case. It is sad to think about, but it is the truth.

I really wish I could have done driver education but my parents taught me instead. I still read through the handbook and they taught me all the rules, but an actual class would have been nice. It is incredibly important to go through some sort of driver education because there are so many small rules you may not know that could risk your life and others too. For example, when turning left at a green light without an arrow, some people may not know the cars going forward have the right of way. That is just one rule someone may not know that can cost them their life. If everyone is educated about driving before they are actually allowed on the road, it would be a lot safer. Everyone should also be educated on the statistics of accidents on the road so they will not decide to be careless behind the wheel.

There are plenty of things that could be done to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. One could be making the process of getting your driver’s licence harder. I am not saying that it is terrible but I passed the written test the first time and the driving test the second time. They also mainly took me through neighborhoods which is way different than driving through main roads and highways in heavy traffic. I think the test used to be harder than it is now too. My mom told me that during her driver’s test the instructor was asking her questions about the handbook while she was driving. I was preparing myself for that at my driver’s test but the only thing my instructor said was the directions I needed to go. I also think it might be helpful if you were required to retake your drivers test, written and driving, every few years so you have a refresher and don’t forget any of the rules behind safe driving. One final step that could be taken is starting an organization that goes to high schools and educates the students on the risks of driving and how you can make sure you are driving safely.

The only car accident I have personally been in was when my grandma was driving. It was a small fender bender and I was too young to remember much of it. Something huge I do remember though is an accident that wasn’t a car hitting a car, but a car hitting a person. My brother ran around one side of our grandma’s car to go to the other side one time when they were parked at the community pool in a neighborhood. There was a car speeding down the street and it hit him. It was just a couple days before his fourth birthday. My parents and I were driving home to Wichita, Kansas from Oklahoma City when we got the call and the connection was so bad that the call kept breaking up and eventually we couldn’t understand them at all. I will admit, my dad sped on the way home and it still took over an hour to get there. The first person that greeted us in the hospital was the chaplain and my mom started bawling thinking he died. Luckily he was okay and just suffered from a concussion, and major cuts all over his body, but it was still a traumatic experience for everyone. If that driver wouldn’t have been speeding, they may have seen him in time to brake and he may have never been hit. In addition to sad accidents, some people drive so irresponsibly that they could easily cause an accident. I know some people who get to school early and speed through the parking lot. It terrifies me and I always get mad and leave but that isn’t going to make them stop.

I personally can do many things to be safe on the road and help others be safe too. I will make sure I am always keeping up with the laws and am trying my hardest to drive safely. I will also advise my friends and family members when they need help or are unaware they are not driving safely. I can always help people when they have been drinking so they don’t choose to get behind a wheel either.

Overall, the road is not the safest place that it could be. There are lots of terrible things that happen because of careless driving every day. This problem could be easily fixed if everyone was better educated on safe driving. For now all we can do is try and educate people and possibly reach for larger support. I know if we all become more aware and educated on safe driving and how it can better the safety of the roads, we can make a change.