Driver Education Initiative – Being a Safe Driver

Being a safer Driver

Just
as every organization scrutinize candidates to identify the required
work ethics and skills to fit a function, I believe every driver must
possess certain qualities to be road worthy. Driving is not just the
skill of steering a vehicle but also the character that place so much
premium on lives. The safety of passengers and pedestrians is a key
responsibility of anyone who must be behind the wheel.

To
start with, safe driving begins in the mind. As a requirement in
Texas and some other states in the United State (US), everyone
applying for a driver’s license must undergo some compulsory
lessons on consequences of wrong driving [1]. In the course this
program, I viewed some videos on consequences of human actions while
driving. These were documented cases of fatalities due to someone’s
failure to comply with safety rules in driving; actions that resulted
in permanent damage to others, and emotional torture on their love
ones. It was an experience that changed my paradigm about driving and
left my mind ‘recalibrated’. I believe this should be the
starting point for everyone aspiring to drive. The right mind about
driving is being conscious of the likely aftermath of ones actions
while steering an automobile.

Another
point worth emphasizing to drive safely is effective planning. A
thorough thought process will help see the link between planning and
safe driving. Distracted driving accounts for 121 out of 200 accident
cases on the highway according to US traffic records [2].
Distractions arises when driving without detailed plan before
embarking on a driving schedule. It is expected of a traveler to have
factored out certain concerns such as, the best route, estimated time
of arrival, latest take off time, speed limits, vehicle condition and
the state of their own mind for the trip. With this plan in place,
distraction will greatly reduce and a driver will likely drive
carefully and put no threat to others.

Moreover,
defensive driving skills are essential to be a safe driver. The
standard Safe
Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations,
ANSI/ASSE Z15.1,
defines defensive
driving skills as
“driving to save lives, time, and money, in spite of the
conditions around you and the actions of others [3]. This kind of
driving required some skills beyond mastery of the rules of the road
and the basic mechanics of driving.
Its objective is to reduce the likelihood
of collision by
foreseeing dangerous conditions, irrespective of adverse situation or
other drivers’ errors. Compliance to guidelines, like following
the clear
distance ahead and two
second rules,
as well as the practice of specific driving techniques. Defensive
driving assumes everyone else on the road were drunk drivers and
states guidelines to avoid others hazard.

In
conclusion, being a safe driver required the combination of the right
character and the right skills. The discipline, that place a great
value on people safety, and recognize every other task that could
cause distraction while driving as secondary and mustn’t be
attended to until the end of the journey, is a must for every safe
driver. In addition, journey planning and developing driving
defensive skills which always anticipate dangerous situation and
prepared to avert them will help in becoming a safer driver.