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Driving is a necessity in today's society, and as more and more people get behind the steering wheel the risk of accidents increases and driving education becomes more critical. The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths is higher and necessary to maintain safety along roadways. It helps us to develop our driving skills and foster a deeper understanding of the different road signs, traffic laws and safe driving practices, which lead us to a better decision making when we are driving in high-pressure circumstances. This driver education is fundamental because it acknowledges the different hazards and responsibilities that come when operating a vehicle, this fundamental education also helps to maintain road infrastructure in good conditions. Public awareness with local-level accidents can bring more results in reducing the number of deaths related to driving because the people in the community can relate more personally to incidents that happen close to home. Driver education, local-level awareness, and personal responsibility are critical components in reducing road fatalities; all these steps can be taken to deal with this issue to ensure a benefit for all the individuals in the community that find themselves around the roadways as drivers or pedestrians.
When I was living in Mexico a few years ago, many of my friends did not own cars, however most of us relied on public transport to get around the city, whether it was heading to school, extra-curricular activities, or parties. However, the few friends who had cars would often volunteer to drive some of their closer friends home after some parties or special events where we would opt to get to our destination all together. One particular weekend night after a party, that was in the state limits of my home state, was getting late for my friends and I so we decided to leave the party. The friend who was supposed to drive wasn’t in his right state of mind, he was clearly impaired, and I could tell he wasn’t fit to drive. Despite his condition, some of my friends agreed to get in the car, thinking it was safer to get home quickly rather than wait for another ride or walk back home.
I, however, didn’t feel comfortable getting in. I was aware of my friend’s condition and made the decision to walk home instead along with another friend whose house was in the same direction of mine. The next day, when we all met up at school, during lunch my friends who had taken the ride home started to share the experience they had the previous night. They shared how frightening the drive was: the driver was swerving in and out of lanes, speeding randomly, and they feared for their lives the entire time. Some of them even said that at one point, they considered stopping the car, but they were too afraid to act or tell. I could see their faces pale as they recalled the experience that was clearly unpleasant. Fortunately, they all made it home safely and just stayed as an unpleasant and dumb ride home.
That night left a lasting impression on me. Watching my friends go through that terrifying experience that could end up bad, made me realize just how much responsibility a driver holds, not only for themselves but for everyone in the car. After that night, I knew I would never take road safety lightly. It’s something I’ve carried with me since, understanding that every decision behind the wheel could have serious consequences. We’re not just driving a car, we are responsible for our own safety as well as the safety of any other person who could be injured or killed by a car accident.
Overall having an optimal performance when driving is a responsibility that all driver should take seriously and educate oneself about all the hazards and dangers one could face when driving, this driver education is fundamental and should acknowledge and teach how prevent the different hazards that come when operating a vehicle, public awareness with local-level accidents could be helpful because the people in the community can relate more personally to incidents that happen close to home. My experience in Mexico watching my friends taking the risk totally avoidable in a ride home changed my perspective on the responsibility weight of driving with safety. It is worth highlighting that you should not go light while driving safely and that is why I concluded that behind every car is a life.