I recall my earlier days being in high school and being afraid to take drivers ed because what if I am not competent enough to drive? At sixteen you would think I would be a bit more excited to want to drive and receive the “grown up privilege”. Driving was so highlighted with my family being a form of independence but I most certainly had a different approach to the thought of driving. Now being reinforced in school that we may receive the privilege still made me be cautionary with the thoughts and actions surrounding driving. Although school certainly eased my thoughts on driving, especially answering the very question I had entering the course in September of my Sophomore year. I certainly understand what is being asked of me and the responsibility behind driving. Hence, there is a significant element as to why there should be driving education. I had the privilege of being taught this course in my public high school compared to the interactive conversations I had with people I have met. When asking them about their experience they do not know the first bit about regulations and typically are the ones driving without even understanding the basics. With this course I understood state rules, car norms that they speak of, being an organ donor or tactics possibly save one's life while driving. I find that even speaking about this and teaching people was such a large assistance towards some education about driving and evading fatalities on the road. I strongly think that this experience of just going back to the simplicity of demonstrating and speaking to those that have no experience with driver education can go a long way.
Although some may not receive the fortunate experience I have, I think there are basic steps to ensure that we can reduce the number of deaths on the road. Firstly, address some facts while having conversations and demonstrations. I have shown videos or have had personal anecdotes of reasons for fatalities related to driving. For instance how I relayed facts to my friends about adhering to not driving under influence as D.U.I conviction is severe and harmful towards all involved. Given the simulation of being under the influence while trying to drive was extremely uncomfortable and scary. Without instilling fear of this debilitation that they are not capable of evading this I provide alternatives if being in a situation of being under influence such as telling them to call someone reliable and sober to be able to get you. Possessions can be handled later but your life will not. Putting emphasis that their lives as well as others involved are so precious. Also saying they can call driving services such as Uber, Lyft, or Taxis as well as location services to ensure you get home! By emphasizing this idea of value and resolutions it allows people to be trusting of following through these actions to ensure reductions on the road. Clearing the road without putting yourself or others in danger is a big leap towards lowering the deaths related to driving.
I hold a high standard in understanding that I have a responsibility on the road for myself and others to keep lives safe. This sense of heightened responsibility resurfaced even now just after receiving my license. Trusting myself and others to be safe on the road tends to be weary as I had a family friend be a part of the statistics of death by vehicular slaughter. The graphics of understanding her death are embedded with the amount of distraught it brought my family and how they reiterate safety for all of us on the road. Unfortunately this is not the last time I encountered a similar distressing event with vehicular accidents. My father who is an enthusiast for motorcycles was in two accidents due to the recklessness of the driving of others where they cut him off and having to injure himself to prevent his death. Although not resulting in fatality it was a fear of not being attentive to all on the road, which is why these incidents serve as a reminder to promote driving education not only in an educational setting but with our relatives. To have these conversations and also put this into practice of showing everyone how to practice driving. At the end this is all a privilege to receive a paper saying, “yes you can legally drive.”
Aside from receiving all this privilege I remind myself of what steps I have to take while on the road which is practice and ensure to be vigilant and aware for the constituents on the road. This road is shared and we all have one big rule which is to ensure no fatality. To model the very things I learned to drive safely. Utilize your blinkers, change your headlights to ensure you do not obscure your other drivers, abide by road rules on where to stop or stay on your lane. By cultivating more confidence instead of reckless action which leads to roads feeling unsafe for others we can lower our rates of deaths by driving.