The Lessons Learned From Driver Education Can Make the Roads Safer For All.

Driver education has taught me both the laws associated with driving a car and the mechanics of actually operating a vehicle. As a result it has instilled in me the confidence I truly needed to become a safe driver. I know I wasn’t alone in being nervous when I first started taking driver education. I think most people are when they first learn to drive. But through the basic teachings and the actual practice behind the wheel, people like me slowly become familiar with the whole routine, and the nerves become less and less while getting a more comfortable feeling behind the wheel. There’s also a great sense of accomplishment. After all, I really was excited to learn how to drive a car!

Through driver education I became more aware of the behaviors on the road that can put me and others at risk while driving. A major lessen learned from taking driver education is how to be a defensive driver. Defensive driving is being able to anticipate events before they actually happen, and to take appropriate action depending on the situation. This can only happen if the driver is paying attention as they drive, remaining alert and undistracted. I learned to be vigilant and observe the movements of other cars and trucks on the road. It is important to avoid any vehicle that is weaving in and out of traffic or those that are swerving even within their own lane. On highways or parkways we might even see cars or trucks speeding as well as weaving in and out of lanes. In these situations I have learned to get out of their way or just let them pass, whichever is the safest action at the time.

I decided to look up some information regarding car crashes in our country. According to the CDC about 90 people die each day in the US from car crashes. However, motor vehicle crash deaths had actually gone down in number in the 20^th century for our country which was a wonderful achievement. Still some more current data about crashes shows that compared to other high income countries Americans don’t use the front seat belts as much as other countries do. Drunk driving appears to be responsible for 1 in 3 deaths in the US and almost 1 in 3 are due to speeding. So it isn’t hard to see that we still need to do better in reducing injuries and deaths due to car crashes.

So how can we take steps to reduce the number of deaths? There are several factors that can help reduce both injuries and deaths associated with car crashes. For instance, simply using seat belts. I always use my seat belt and I ask any passenger in my car to put on their seat belt as well. Fastening a seat belt obviously prevents a driver or passenger from hitting their head and other body parts or even being thrown from a car during a crash. A person in a car who doesn’t wear a seat belt can lift out of their seat during a crash as the car spins and rolls and their arms and legs can injure others in the car. So not only can refusing to wear a seat belt hurt the individual themselves but also the other passengers in the car. This is something I don’t think people often think about.

Another risk factor on the road to be aware of is the weather conditions. I know that snowy, icy or wet roads can be slippery when driving. A driver has to concentrate more and drive slower during these road conditions. It’s not the same as driving on sunny dry days. Also not obeying speed limits in general is a risk factor since speeding is one of the main causes of car crashes. Trying to drive quickly through yellow or red lights is a hazard on the roads. Fortunately I haven’t been in a car crash but I have seen other drivers go through red lights which could potentially cause a crash. Obeying traffic laws like going the speed limit and slowing down for yellow lights and stopping at red lights saves lives by preventing crashes.

Keeping distractions at a minimum while driving is another very important factor in reducing injuries and death from car crashes. Obviously no one should be texting while driving. It only takes a second or two with your eyes off the road to create a dangerous situation. Believe it or not, in addition to texting, having music blasting can also be distracting especially, for example, when looking for a specific destination or an exit on the parkway, or if you’re in heavy stop and go traffic. Even if it’s your favorite song, turn it down or turn it off for a while to allow for clearer concentration at times such as those. Hands free cell phones are now a common addition to our cars which can totally help with keeping our eyes on the road. However, if a conversation becomes emotional and interferes with our concentration, we need to end it until later so that we’re not distracted.

I am currently underage, but in the future I will never drink and drive and I will not get into a car with anyone if they are under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. Also I will not drive if I feel very tired or sleepy and I will not get into a car if the driver appears drowsy or says they are tired. And I will always do my best to prevent them from getting behind the wheel to drive themselves.

And finally, I try to be a predictable driver. This means I won’t make sudden moves that can startle or surprise other drivers and cause confusion and possible crashes. For instance if I pass a street I was supposed turn on or if I pass an exit on the parkway I will not suddenly step on my brakes or make a quick u turn. I will continue driving until I find another way to get where I’m going. And I always use my turn signals if I’m going to make a right or left turn. This is the way that vehicles on the road communicate with each other. It’s easy to do. This, as well as the other issues mentioned above, can make a big difference in helping to keep our roads safer.