Importance of Safe Driving

The Driving
Theory test was introduced as part of the UK driving test in 1996 and
it has helped improve road safety and reduce accidents. It improves
awareness of various road situations and ensures that successful
candidates have sufficient knowledge of the different road signs and
actions to take in different situations. In 2017, the DSA introduced
‘Hazard Perception’ as another section of the exam. This further
trains new drivers to spot potential hazards and to expect danger in
any road situation. This translates into real-life drivers who are
much more aware of their surroundings and so are more likely to avoid
potentially fatal accidents. Additionally, when learner drivers are
being taught by experienced instructors, they not only learn the
mechanics of driving, but they gain an understanding of potentially
dangerous situations and how to act in them.

The government
should ensure that the roads are in good condition so that driving is
made as easy and safe as possible. This includes filling pot-holes
and ensuring that there are adequate signs in areas that require
them. For example, signs which notify drivers of potential dangers of
the road, such as hidden dips.

Driving
examination centres need to ensure that the candidates they pass are
able to drive safely and so the practical tests need to be stringent
and assess all the core skills. Most people find driving tests very
stressful, but this is actually beneficial in the long-run as the
candidate needs to prove that they can still drive well under
stressful conditions.

1/5 new drivers
have an accident in their first year. Black-box schemes are an
excellent way to reduce the number of accidents as they offer a
financial incentive to drive more safely by lowering the usually much
higher insurance for new drivers.

It is not only
down to the government and driving school associations to reduce the
number of car-related deaths. Many people assume that once they have
passed their test, that’s it they can drive, and they stop actively
trying to improve. Like any skill, one can always improve by
practicing, acknowledging your mistakes and actively trying to change
them. It is crucial to use every experience in the car as an
opportunity to improve, both by critiquing your own actions and
studying the effects of the actions of others, and by doing this, you
can become a much safer driver.

It is also
important to just be sensible when you are driving. If weather
conditions are poor, consider if your journey is really essential,
don’t drive when you are too tired to focus properly and always
make sure the road around you is your main focus, not other people in
the car, or the radio.

Although I
personally have never been involved in a car accident, I understand
how easy it is for situations to quickly get out of hand and result
in disaster, which is why I believe it is crucial to educate new
drivers on the risks of driving from the beginning.