Being Safe Saves Lives

Driver education is extremely important in reducing driving casualties because when you know more about driving and the rules of the road, you’re less likely to cause a car accident. Those who get their permits and licenses need to have adequate education because according to the CDC, teens aged 16-19 have a higher risk of getting into a car crash than any other age group. This age group is the youngest to be able to get their permits/licenses and buy a car, and if they haven’t completed proper drivers’ education, they are 24% more likely to get into a fatal car accident than those who have completed drivers’ education, according to newsroom.unl.edu.

A vital step in reducing casualties related to driving is to make sure that anyone who gets their license has proper education of both the vehicle and the road. My parents knew of this importance, so on top of taking the driver’s test in order to get my permit, I took a full, online course which taught me the rules of the roads in my state, and once I got my permit, I didn’t drive on an open road until I could comfortably perform all the steps, such as stopping comfortably, turning, using blinkers and flashers, and park, and I mastered my churches parking lot.

On top of being properly educated, another step to monitor driver’s safety should be quarterly driving tests the first few years you have your license. This would ensure that you are being consistent with good driving habits, and if you aren’t then your license could be suspended until you pass another driver education course that focuses on areas where you failed the test.

I personally have never been in a car accident, nor have my family members or friends, but I have witnessed some circumstances where a car accident could occur. For example, on my way to school there is a new 4 way stop. Every time I go through it, it really makes me question who actually knows how 4 way stops work. Just last week, I was on my way home from school and the car ahead of me was going straight, the car to the left was going straight, and the car on the opposite side from my car was turning left. It was the car in front of mine’s turn to go, and both of the other cars went as well. Luckily, only horns were honked, and no one crashed. Another time, 4 drivers just awkwardly sat and stared at each other because, I assume, no one knew who was supposed to go next.

Another area where I have almost witnessed an accident multiple times is the highway. There’s a strip of Interstate-4 in Florida near my house that is known as “The I-4 Dead Zone.” It starts in Tampa and goes to Daytona; however, the deadliest part is in Sanford. The zone is built over a type of graveyard and based on paranormal beliefs, however the number of accidents that happen here are scary and could match up with those paranormal beliefs. Almost every time I drive on I-4 there is always someone driving in a way that could likely cause an accident.

I can work on being a safer driver on the road by being a leader and not a follower. Something that I tend to do is follow the flow of other cars. For example, I feel under pressure and embarrassed if I am going slower than most people on certain roads or highways, even if I am driving at the speed limit. So, I tend to speed up and match traffic. This could be unsafe for me and other drivers because it limits my reaction time.

I can also be proactive instead of reactive by making small corrections to make my, and my friends and families, driving experiences safer. I tend to do this already, as my brother has decided recently that he doesn’t have to buckle up in the car. Whenever my parents or I drive I make sure to call him out and tell him to put his seatbelt on. Even though I know my parents and I are safe drivers, you never know what could happen on the road so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Another example is whenever I see an indicator light on my dash, I make sure to report it to my parents and get the green light from them before driving the car.

All in all, there are many reasons why drivers’ education is important in reducing the casualties related to driving, and there are many steps we can take to both increase safety on the road and in our cars.