The Importance of Education in Driving

What is the
importance of drivers ed in reducing the number of deaths
as a result of driving?

Education is the
cornerstone of humanity. Education also instills confidence in
people, and confidence in ones driving ability will allow one to be
more comfortable. When we are at a feeling of comfort, we tend to
naturally respond in a more efficient and effective manner, which is
needed to help us in certain difficult driving situations. The
more education on driving we receive, the more responsible we become
in following the road rules and regulations. Statistical analysis
show that the number one killer of teens are car crashes, which
attribute to about 33% of all teen deaths. This includes driver
error, distraction and recklessness. It is estimated that driver’s
education can reduce crashes by 4.3%.

What steps can be
taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

I believe that it
should be mandatory for new drivers to take drivers edal
course. It’s great to spend time learning from your parents, but
we all tend eventually to settle in on our ways and habits, and it is
best that a new driver learns from professionals that know all the
laws and regulation, then to depend on a parent to remember to show
the child all that they need to know in driving. A professional
instructor will be more objective, where the parent would me more
subjective. I also believe that the methods of education need to be
updated. In today’s society, we have over five different
generations living together, and we all communicate in different and
unique ways. Instead of just having reading literature or movies,
you should utilize social media as an active way to bring awareness
on drivers ed. Progressive insurance has a great tool
that should be implemented for all new drivers as at least for their
first year as a new driver. It’s called Snapshot and it monitors
the drivers to see if they are driving safely and abiding by the
rules and regulations of the road. Driving is a privilege and not a
right. Getting people into good habits in the beginning is the right
direction to go.

I also believe that part of the drivers ed experience
should be driving in bad weather, so that a young person gets the
experience behind the wheel with a professional and gains the
confidence.

Have you ever had
an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or
family members driving irresponsibly?

Yes, I was once
in an accident were my father was driving. No one was hurt since we
all had our seatbelts on. It was scary, but it made me thankful that
putting on our seatbelts was second nature, since we were always
taught to have them on regardless if we were in the front or the back
of the vehicle.

What steps can
you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others
become safer on the road?

I believe that
being a better driver starts with awareness. I should practice my
awareness by making sure I power down all my electrical devices when
I’m driving. I should always be alert and cognizant of my
surrounding of where I am driving and try to minimize disruptions to
my concentration. I should also make sure I always give myself extra
time when I leave, so that I do not put the added pressure on myself
of potential speeding, or not being aware due to added stress because
I may be late. I can help my friends to be better drivers by
communicating openly and honestly with them when I see them making
irrational decisions, such as speeding, texting while driving, not
obeying traffic regulation and such. The important thing is to be
genuine and to do so from a place of sensitivity and kindness to
their feeling.