How to: Safer Driving

The importance of driver education to reduce death caused by vehicular accidents lies in making people realize how serious this issue is. I have heard many people, most of them close friends and family, say that there was nothing to worry about because they are good drivers. I do not dispute the fact that they are good drivers, but all people have the mindset of “It would never happen to me, I’m a good driver.” Or “Accidents only happen to bad drivers.” Or even “I’ve never been in a car crash before; it won’t happen now.” While education on the risk of driving will not necessarily change their mind on these false ideas and assumptions, education can bring the truth about it into a more immediate place in their minds. Hopefully, when provided with informative examples and causes of automobile fatalities, drivers will be more cautious and careful while driving.

Driving education is an important topic, as it leads people to wonder what can be done about the high number of deaths due to driving. To reduce the risk of casualties associated with driving, we need to produce better drivers to begin with and remove unsafe drivers from the roads. Better drivers and driving schools will teach the importance of proper safety while driving. If drivers are taught from a youthful age that the speed limit should be the top speed and that all traffic laws should be obeyed to the letter, they will be safer drivers for the rest of their lives. Driving instructors and parents should also demonstrate the correct way to drive, obeying all laws and showing the caution that driving safely requires. I believe that taking those preventative measures will do well as a long-term step towards safety.

There should also be some proactive steps that should be taken as well, to make the roads safer immediately. Another step that should be taken is to continue testing a driver throughout their life. A person who passed their initial test with excellence may become sloppy in their driving and therefore become a danger on the roads. The ongoing testing will provide necessary accountability for those drivers who have become lax in practicing proper safety on the roads. It could also ensure that drivers who speed as a habit will reevaluate their habits and lower the average speed of traffic.

Personally, I think that ongoing evaluations would benefit me as a driver. A few months after I got my driver’s license, I was in traffic and got involved in an accident. I had accelerated into the rear-end of another person’s car, because I looked down to check my directions on my cell phone. Luckily, there were no injuries and minimal damage to either car. The man I hit was truly kind and understanding and that impacted me. I had just hit his car from behind, and he had every right to be angry at me, but he decided instead to simply talk to me about the dangers of not paying attention while driving. I had heard that story many times, however, that was when it really sunk in for me. Now, I realize how dumb I was for looking away, as I have seen several cars totaled because the driver was distracted for mere seconds. I have been able to mature as a driver, in part due to the experience of being in an accident and learning how important it is to drive safely.

Growing up, my father was the one who drove everywhere. He works in an automotive company and takes pride in being a capable and skilled driver. Despite that, there are still times where he did not drive as safely as he could have. I remember one day he came home from work with a speeding ticket for going about ten miles per hour over the speed limit. The thought of getting a speeding ticket was extremely frightening at the time, and even now I am not eager to ever get one. I refuse to ride in the car with my friend, because she drives irresponsibly, and I do not want to be in the car if she wrecks it.

On the road, I can become a better driver by eliminating all distractions from my vehicle. I tend to tuck my phone away and I can keep my music volume turned down, to keep my attention on what occurs outside the vehicle, not in it. I can make sure that I watch out for other cars and pedestrians while driving. One step most people will not like is to follow the speed limit, especially when it is a busy road. I could help others become safer by informing people about the dangers of unsafe driving and telling them how unsafe driving can be prevented.