Drivers are constantly at risk of being severely or fatally injured while on the road and people must face this possibility daily. Though it seems simple, driving is dangerous, and anything can go wrong in the blink of an eye. Several people are killed every day by car accidents, and this will continue to remain an issue for many years to come as cars have become such a necessity in society. Therefore, driver education is essential for the safety of drivers because it teaches people safe driving techniques and important signs to be aware of on the road as you never know what can happen in a split second.
While driving home from babysitting on a Friday night, I was passing a car and felt a sudden collision on the passenger side of my car. My car began to turn on its side and I flipped twice in the air before landing upside down on the side of the road. Witnesses comforting me and paramedics rushing to my aid, I gathered that I had been t-boned by another car trying to cross traffic. I sat in the grass surrounded by strangers as my parents rushed from home to arrive at the scene. I looked around at the damage made in such a brief time and how my once pristine car was now flipped upside down with dents and scratches on all four sides. I learned from strangers in nearby cars that I was not at fault for the accident and that there was no way I could have seen the car about to hit me. Fortunately, I only sustained a concussion and a few scratches, but I would not be aware of the psychological effects that this accident would have on me. I dealt with PTSD for the following months as well as daily anxiety with panic attacks and body tremors. With time these symptoms began to diminish, but I continue to face anxiety and panic attacks on the road regularly as I fear that another incident could occur at any time. Although this was a traumatic experience, it taught me several important lessons including how anything can happen on the road and the importance of driver education to keep people safe on the road.
With many cars around a driver on the road, there is only so much in their control, yet there are some steps that a driver should take to keep them safe. The simplest step a driver can take is putting their seatbelt on before starting their drive. Despite it being a repetitive statement, this step can save lives, which I have learned in my personal experience because when the car goes out of control, the seatbelt keeps the driver secure in the seat and prevents them from being thrown around in the car. Without my seatbelt, I would have faced more serious injuries because I would not have stayed in my seat when my car was flipping, and I would not have been able to control where my body would have landed when the car stopped rolling. Another crucial step in driving safely is to keep a good following distance with the car. As other drivers may perform reckless maneuvers, it is important to have a safe following distance, so the driver has enough time to stop their car if something happens around them. In addition to following distance, a driver should be aware of their surroundings, so they are informed of any dangerous hazards or reckless drivers around them. Lastly, the most important step for safe driving is to keep your eyes on the road and stay off cell phones while driving because any time a driver takes their eyes off the road means that they are missing what is happening around them. These steps are all important in reducing the number of driving-related deaths and helping me to be a better driver because they ensure that a driver is attentive to their environment and events occurring on the road and how to respond to these events around them.
Driver education is crucial in protecting drivers and preventing deaths related to driving because it educates drivers on how to keep themselves and other cars safe around them. Driver education programs will teach about driving laws and road signs as well as how to analyze if the environment is safe to drive including dangerous weather, traffic, and driving under the influence. In addition, behind-the-wheel programs instruct inexperienced drivers on proper driving mechanics and techniques to show them how to obey the laws of the road and keep themselves and other drivers around them safe. Along with driver education, the use of safety tips helps people to become defensive drivers where they can quickly respond to their surroundings and are aware of what is happening around them. These steps will reduce accidents because drivers are more prepared for any situation on the road, and they will react appropriately to reduce their risk of getting injured or injuring others. Thus, driver education is important to reduce deaths related to driving and keep drivers safe because drivers will become more responsible on the road and be aware of the dangers that they face when they are behind the wheel.
Driving continues to be a threat to the lives of people as a small mistake on the road can lead to a fatal injury or death. By educating drivers on the importance of safety steps and precautions, these deaths can be reduced as drivers will be better protected when placed in a dangerous situation and this will lessen their chance of being severely injured. As shown in my personal experience, anything can happen on the road in the blink of an eye without a driver doing anything wrong and without the use of specific safety measures, such as my seatbelt, I would not be as lucky to have only been minorly injured when leaving the scene. Cars continue to remain a necessity for transportation in society, and thus, the way to reduce these deaths resulting from driving is by following safety steps and spreading awareness for driver education.