
Name: Jaydan Kisinger
From: Missouri City, Texas
Votes: 2
Saving Lives by Improving Driver Education
Driving is an incredible responsibility that almost everyone in the modern world has. Millions of people drive on a daily basis. With so many people driving comes the risk of motor accidents. Thousands of people die in traumatic accidents every year. Promoting driver education can greatly decrease the frequency of car accidents and keep millions of people safe. Driver education opens people’s eyes to the risks of driving, improves their judgement on the road, and teaches them skills for keeping themselves, their loved ones, and their fellow drivers safe.
Research shows us that distracted driving causes the majority of car accidents every year, and this trend shows no signs of stopping. As cell phones become more advanced, people increasingly addicted to their devices, and social media evermore enthralling, there is no end to the distractions that follow us into our vehicles. Distracted driving does not just mean cell phone use- it includes eating, drinking, talking, listening to music, and singing as well. Although drivers may not always be able to totally eliminate distractions while they are driving, there are steps they can take to greatly reduce their distractions. Powering off cell phones and other mobile devices upon entering a vehicle is a great start. Turning the device completely off reduces the temptation to pick it up and prevents notifications and phone calls from coming through and grabbing the driver’s attention. Keeping music on a moderate or low level can help keep a driver’s eyes and mind on the road at all times. Finally, choosing to enjoy meals before and after a drive will also limit distractions while driving.
While distracted driving notoriously causes the most accidents, speeding causes the most fatalities on the road. Anyone can easily say that the solution to this problem is to simply tell people to stop speeding, but driver educators and safety proponents have done this for years and it has not yielded significant results. We must delve deeper into the problem if we want to effectively combat this issue. Why do people speed? Perhaps they mismanage their time, they enjoy the thrill, or they are easily provoked. All of these factors encourage speeding. Driver education must encourage people to plan their trips ahead and give themselves enough time to reach their destination. Educators must also emphasize that driving is not a game. When you are driving on the road, you hold not only your own life in your hands, but the lives of everyone else around you as well. Lastly, for those who drive with lots of energy and aggression, educators can encourage them to remain calm. Taking a few deep breaths before starting the car can help keep anxiety and stress levels low. When the body is in a state of rest-and-digest rather than fight-or-flight, a driver will feel calmer and less reactive, and will drive more safely on the roads.
Of course, no one should ever get behind the wheel while under the influence. This goes without saying. Stressing the importance of sobriety while driving saves lives. Driving after or while consuming alcohol or mind-altering drugs has devastating effects. The severity of such an offense cannot be overstated, so driver educators must do all that they can to ingrain this in the minds of their students. Mindset is everything when driving. A focused, even-tempered, sober mind will succeed in keeping people safe on the road.
I have seen family members drive irresponsibly before. They drive at speeds well over the speed limit, weaving in and out of people in traffic, running red lights and stop signs, and cutting other drivers off in their lanes. They drive in a very aggressive and reckless way, intimidating their passengers and fellow drivers on the road. Their behavior leads you to believe they do not consider other people when they drive and are only concerned with themselves. As a passenger, you also find yourself wondering if this is going to be the time you get in a horrible accident with that person. Dangerous driving like this brings about waves of stressful, negative emotions and risks the lives everyone involved. It should not take a gruesome accident and the potential death of a loved one to teach drivers not to drive this way.
To improve my own driving, I know that I need to put effort into keeping a calm and level-headed attitude. I am often inclined to get irritated with people and drive more aggressively than I should. I try to mitigate this by taking deep breaths while I drive, unclenching my jaw, and loosening my grip on the steering wheel. This helps to keep me out of a volatile, stressed out state and just relax while I am on the road. I also remind myself that, in each vehicle, there is another human being with a rich, complex life filled with emotions, experiences, and people just like my own. I should value and respect them as well as myself by driving defensively and safely. I will share these techniques with other drivers so they can also regulate themselves and be safe while they are driving.