Learning and Doing: The Importance of Continuing Education for American Drivers

Learning to drive is, for the majority of Americans, an extremely exciting experience. However, the initial infatuation fades rapidly as it becomes a routine activity. Americans spend a tremendous amount of time in the car each and every day and yet not much time is devoted to discussing the mechanics of driving apart from the basics. The reality is that driving involves complex cognitive processes that are frequently given far less attention than they require. An understanding of the inherent risks of driving and ways we can be vigilant on the road are crucial to protecting those within our vehicle as well as those who share the road with us.

Driver’s Education is extremely important to helping beginners drive safely, however, without continued education it is minimally effective. Students tend to learn how to drive from instructors or parents and then eventually develop their own style. While there is nothing wrong with this process, it should never mark the end of a driver’s learning. In fact, it is only the beginning of a lifelong process of growth and development. By continuing our education, we are able to not only learn how to be a better driver but we are also reminded of the crucial components that keep us safe. Learning the mechanics of a safe lane change, proper following distance, how to smoothly bring the vehicle to a stop, how to drive defensively, and even how to crash safely are all crucial steps towards driving well. There’s always more to learn about driving and also more to practice. By consistently studying and discussing our routine driving habits, we avoid becoming complacent and falling into the same mistakes every day. Taking responsibility for our lifelong driver’s education is one of the single most important steps we can take to prevent accidents, to avoid distracted driving, and to reduce the number of driving-related deaths in the United States.

The culture plays a major role in how driver’s education is perceived. Mainstream media does an excellent job portraying driving as a step towards adulthood, however, it also minimizes the risks associated with the activity by making it appear to be an easy activity and glossing over distracted driving. Televisions and movies, though less frequently in recent years, have all too often presented fabricated portraits of driving under the influence and texting while driving that dismiss consequences and glamorize the perpetrators. Continuing to accurately convey the harm that comes from distracted driving can help to minimize these behaviors and to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths. Additionally, media and education outlets must insure that driving is portrayed as an individual responsibility. Groupthink and conformity biases cause individuals to drive above the speed limit, engage in riskier behaviors, and to see safe driving as unappealing. Ultimately, if these key influencers work together to make the individual understand the importance of their role and responsibility in protecting themselves and others, we can create a lasting decrease in the number of driving-related deaths.

After a nonfatal car accident, the stress lingers long after injuries have healed. I am tremendously blessed as none of my family members have died in car accidents. However, this is unfortunately not something that many Americans can say about their families. In the last ten years I have been in seven car accidents. I have never crashed into anyone else, but I have been a passenger when friends and family members have had collisions with others on the road. Thankfully, I have never left a car accident in which anyone was seriously injured. However, after a wreck, I noticed that driving with others made me exceptionally nervous. Each time someone would push their breaks I had to clench my fists and bite down to avoid yelling at them to stop. The stress stuck with me in each instance for over a month after the incident. These impacts are unfortunately quite common. Given the vivid impacts of my relatively minor accidents, the anxiety and pain that comes with a major accident is unimaginably horrible to me. Knowing the impacts car accidents have had on my close friends serves as an additional motivation to drive safely as well as a reminder that people are always dealing with more than we know. Car accidents are terrible, but we can learn from their consequences and take responsibility for our own safety on the road as well as for others.

Choosing to drive consciously is arguably the most important step we can take to protect each other when we are on the road. We need to remain educated and to avoid falling into distracting traps like texting and driving and drinking and driving. By looking out for our own lives and the lives of others, we can fight the media portrayals of reckless driving as acceptable behavior. Driving is more than just a rite of passage. It is a challenge we each must face every single day, and one without a margin of error. I will continue to encourage others to discuss driving and to grow in their knowledge about it, as well as to take it seriously in my own life. By using handsfree technology and avoiding use of my phone, I can work to provide my undivided focus during each and every commute. None of us can be perfect, but if we continuously improve and look out for ourselves and others we can cause substantial decline in the unnecessary deaths and injuries caused by American drivers each year.