Driver Education Initiative – In the Driver’s Seat

Haruka
Kido November 25,
2019

Bachelor
of Science in Electrical Engineering (B.S.E.E.)

with
Computer Science Focus. Mathematics minor.

University
of North Dakota

Driver
Education Initiative Award, 2019 Scholarship

In
the Driver’s Seat

The
importance of driver
education in reducing
the number of deaths related to vehicular driving is just as
important as fueling gas into an empty tank. In the Annual Global
Road Crash Statistics by The ASIRT estimates “nearly 1.25 million
people die in road crashes each year, on average 3,287 deaths a day,”
costing “USD $518 billion globally.” These statistics are
unacceptable and deem the global epidemic of vehicular accidents a
major public concern. The good news is there are measurable and
strategic methods to significantly changing these numbers. One method
is drivers ed. Drivers ed is the responsibility of every
person on the road and provides drivers with both analytical aptitude
and comprehensive information on common road scenarios, signals, and
signs. Every driver should know and abide by traffic laws to reduce
the effects of potential variables that may cause accidents or
injuries as much as possible.

To
reduce the number of
deaths related to driving,
we can take the steps below:

1.
Proper maintenance and
inspection of vehicle through emergency equipment management and
vehicle assessment records of mechanical,
exterior, interior, fluid, and
battery systems.
2.
Know and abide by traffic laws. Follow the speed limits. Know the
meanings of road signs and signals.

3.
Practice defensive driving. Always wear a seatbelt, have unobstructed
views of mirrors, use turning signals, turn on lights when necessary.
Always drive sober, without distractions, and when alert.

4.
Maintain enough distance between other vehicles.

5.
Avoid driving in inclement weather conditions.

I
have previously
experienced a car accident
as a passenger. Subsequently, my mother and I had to be hospitalized.
As the driver, my mother needed to receive stitches along her
eyebrows from the impact of broken glass. If the drivers had provided
themselves more time to analyze their turns, the cars may not have
crashed into one another. Analytical assessments are crucial in safe
driving.

To
maintain safer driving,
these steps can be followed:

1.
Avoid driving in inclement weather conditions.

2.
Do not rush. Provide time to analyze road and traffic conditions.

3.
Use GPS.

To
help others become
safer drivers, we can:

1.
Use social media to encourage safe driving and disseminate
information on the statistics of fatalities and injuries related to
driving.

2.
Drive only if and when we have to.

3.
Continuously learn about traffic laws.

4.
Pay attention to environmental circumstances such as traffic, weather
conditions, and construction.

5.
Participate in training events that can enhance our analytical and
spatial abilities.

Bibliography

1.
Association for Safe International Road Travel,
https://www.asirt.org/safe-travel/road-safety-facts/