Thousands of people die from road accidents each year, while a lot of other people sustain serious injuries, which can change their lives forever. Many of these incidents occur due to driver error, poor judgment, or lack of education over road safety. Schools don’t enforce driver education as much as they should and that’s where it all starts for most kids.. The more drivers are educated on what to do in regards to rules of the road, the more they will be capable of looking ahead for possible dangers and making safe decisions, not only for the protection of themselves but also others on the road.

Probably, the most important feature of road safety is awareness: to be aware of one's environment, of the rules of transit, and of how to behave when encountering particular situations could drastically reduce the probabilities of accidents. Driver education facilitates organized learning useful for individuals to gain necessary skills before taking to wheels independently. An extended driver's education course will teach a beginning driver not just the simple mechanics of operating a vehicle, but also encompasses the psychological aspects of driving: defensive driving techniques, hazard perception, and the risks of distractions.

People think they can just get behind the wheel of a car and learn as they go, but without the proper education, they might not understand the gravity of a certain decision until it's too late. Education also enables drivers to understand the importance of maintaining proper speed, putting on seat belts, avoiding drunk driving, and being wary of other road users like pedestrians and cyclists. When more and more drivers understand the responsibilities driving will bring about, roads can be much safer for every owner of a vehicle.

It wasn't until it literally hit me that I truly realized how big of a deal responsible driving is. My family and I were driving one afternoon down a narrow street in Lakewood, California. A car, in a rush to enter a driveway, ran into the side of us. This left us all in shock; my first car accident ever. It so happened that my little cousin was in the back of the car, and to see the fear in her face heightened the level of shock. The car started smoking, and for a couple of moments, we were all in shock, frozen. Thankfully, we realized the urgency of the situation and got out of the car. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but that incident left a lasting impression on me.

The very moment it happened, I couldn't help but reflect on just how many accidents could be avoided if drivers were more cautious and observant of others. The driver who hit us was in a hurry and made a very reckless decision. If they were a little more patient or just more aware of the possible consequences of speeding into a narrow driveway, it would never have happened. The bottom line here is that driver education shall not be confined to only learning the rules of driving, but patience, awareness, and a sense of responsibility are to be ingrained in a driver.

While driver education is an essential initial step, several other measures, too are available to try to bring down the totals of driving-related deaths. More rigorous laws and heavy fines for speeding, driving under influence, and reckless driving can be proposed by governments and local governments. Such legislation will keep people from driving irresponsibly due to the fear of hefty fines suspension of license, and even imprisonment.

The importance of buckling up or harder enforcement on drinking while driving can save so many lives. Seatbelts, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, saved nearly 15,000 lives in 2017 alone. Buckling up is something that’s overlooked because of how “uncool” it may look but saving your own life and others is the coolest thing anyone can do.

The accident that me and my family were in, opened my eyes to the scary reality of them. This was actually a wake-up call that driving is not actually all about getting from point A to B but rather getting there responsibly and safely. Moving forward, I have committed to taking several steps so that I and others are safe on the road.

I am more aware of distractions now. A phone notification, or adjustment of the radio-the mere feeling that ab second fraction of a distraction can be disastrous makes me always remain focused on the road whenever I am on it. I practice defensive driving, including keeping a safe following distance and anticipating potential hazards. Rather than being reactive, I try to be proactive and prepare for what other drivers might do, whether it be cutting me off or merging suddenly without signaling onto the lane. At all times, I make sure I drive within the limit considered safe and obey all traffic laws, irrelevant of my familiarity with the area.

Having had the shock and fear of being involved in a car accident, I would always keep in mind to remind friends and family members to be safe on the roads. Be it about buckling up with seatbelts or asking them to keep themselves at par with the speed limit, small things do contribute a lot to spreading awareness.

Driving is a great privilege that carries with it huge responsibility. Driver education instills the basic knowledge one requires on the roads for safety. It thus equips drivers with skills necessary to negotiate through situations, each time minimizing risk. The education in itself, however, is not sufficient; driving-related deaths are reduced by active involvement of governments, communities, and individuals. From one car accident, I learned so many valuable life lessons regarding road safety; something that, up to this day, I make sure to be conscious of each time I drive.