Establish Safe Driving Habits

When I was 12 years old, all I could think of was hitting 15. Fifteen meant I could get my learners permit and get behind the wheel of a car. At the time I did not realize the amount of responsibility will be levied on once I got my learners permit and ultimately my license. Your license is the first true test of what adult will look like. When I get behind the wheel and leave my driveway, I am trusted to follow the rules of the road and to ensure my driving habits do not undue risk to myself, my passengers, and other drivers on the road.

Understanding this concept is very difficult for young drivers to understand as we focus on school, peers, and other stressors. We are linear focused at what we perceive is the most important issues to us. Driving becomes just a thing we do, not realizing what it truly means and what the consequences could be. The leaners permit process only provides young drivers with the skillset to understand the rules of the road and how to navigate those rules. This process does not provide us what is at stake when it comes to not following the rules or not having safe driving habits.

I personally have witnessed my peers take undue risk while driving. When pressed on why they did that, their response have been “I know what I am doing, and it was not that risky.” This shows the lack understanding of the potential consequences of their actions. As my peers push the envelope the more and more the more risk they will take, because “nothing happened, I know what I am doing”. My friends have been in accidents but have lucky enough to walk away from them. I believe there are three things that could help in “driving” home that following rules and practice safe driving habits are critical to staying safe on the road.

First, it starts at home. Parents need to display and practice safe driving to be the example for their kids. The biggest influence on a young driver are their parents. If their parents can get away with bad drive habits, then why can’t I. This is the thought process young drivers think as they get more comfortable behind the wheel. If my mom can drive while on the phone, then why can’t I. If the school and insurance companies work together on establishing a course/learning segment designed towards parents and be a part of the registration process for their child to attend 8^th grade. The course would focus on the parents’ influence their child’s future driving habits. As an incentive, this course could be used to reduce the cost of insuring their child.

Second, I recommend a defensive driving course as a part of the learners permit process. Currently, the learners permit process really focuses on understanding rules of the road and what it means to driving under the influence. Having a great defensive driver’s course will outline that avoiding accidents can be accomplished as well as providing the skillset of defensive driving, instead of hoping parents will provide that information. Also, I recommend that the course should be accomplished no sooner than three months of the driver being eligible for the unescorted license. This will allow for the new driver to have real world experience to reference while they take the course.

The two recommendations address areas where we could help drivers before they get their license, I would like to address newly licensed drivers. Third-party driving monitoring is a great way for parents to have insight on their children’s driving habits. I know most of my peers would not like this recommendation, but knowing I have a parent watching my driving habits makes me rethink, when I get the urge to floor it when the light turns green. Again, driving is a privilege and should be taking away if I am not responsible with it. If there could be an emphasis by insurance companies to provide greatly reduce prices with driving monitor implementation, would go a long way with having parents installing this new feature and allow parents to take control of their kids driving habits. Parents will have to ensure there are consequences for bad driving habits.

None of my friends have said that when they received a ticket, that was their first time of breaking the rule. Driving monitor software will allow parents insight to their child’s driving habits before it becomes a ticket or worse an accident. Giving new drivers the tools and knowledge necessary of defensive driving allows them to have that skill for them to use and not use unsafe practices when it comes to scenarios they will face. However, it is critical for parents to be aware that if they want their child to be safe on the road it boils down to them being that example, always wearing a seatbelt, no distractions and following rules of the road. Driving is a privilege, but it comes with responsibilities and if we are not responsible there are irreversible consequences.