Driver Education Can Protect You and Others

I believe that driver education is a prominent factor in reducing driving-related deaths because it provides comprehensive information on all aspects of driving. When someone is enrolled in a driver education course, the instructor will inform them of common accidents that occur among first-time drivers and preventive measures for these specific types of accidents. By informing a first-time driver of these possible mistakes, it allows one to know of actions that could lead to a possible accident and how to avoid them. An instructor will also provide information on driving safety techniques and protocols, basic functions in a standardized car, and behind-the-wheel experience. Providing information on safety techniques, protocols, and basic functions in a standardized car allows one to be prepared for situations that can cause stress when driving. For example, a driving instructor will inform the student of the correct procedure to change lanes when driving. Without this knowledge, it can lead to the student incorrectly changing lanes, such as not checking if there is available space to merge into the lane. All of these specific pieces of information included in driver education are prominent in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving because they allow drivers to be informed of what to expect when driving and how to combat issues that may arise.

Some steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include increasing the amount of supervised driving experience, wearing proper attire suited for driving, and regularly inspecting your car. Before driving alone for the first-time, it is important to accumulate the legal state requirement of supervised driving experience to ensure that a driver can be prepared. Accumulating supervised driving experience with a legal guardian enables you to use the information learned during a driver education course to prepare you for the next step of driving on your own. Gaining this experience is also important because it allows you to thoroughly understand the fundamentals of driving as a whole. After completing the legally required amount, it is necessary for you to feel comfortable and secure with driving to the point that you feel that you can now drive on your own. If one is still unsure of their driving skills even after completion of the legally required amount of supervised driving, it is a great idea to continue supervised driving. Continuing supervised driving will decrease the likelihood that their death is caused by a driving-related injury because they will be more equipped with the correct skills. In addition to increasing the amount of supervised driving, wearing proper attire when driving can decrease the number of deaths related to driving. 

Although it is common for many to wear sandals or other forms of open-toe shoes during hot weather or formal events, it creates a liability risk for the driver and passengers in a vehicle when worn while driving. This is because the space between your toes and the base of the shoe can catch on the brake or accelerator, which can result in fatal injuries or death. By wearing closed-toed shoes, the safety of the driver and passengers is not jeopardized by the possibility of the driver’s shoe being caught on one of the two driving pedals. Similarly, regularly inspecting your vehicle can prevent the number of deaths related to driving because it ensures that all functions are working properly. For example, checking your brakes every 6 months informs you of when you may need maintenance to your car before an accident can be caused by your brakes.

To continue, I have experience with witnessing a car accident as a passenger in the car, which has allowed me to gain a better insight into factors that may cause an accident. During a night in the summer of last year, my friend—who had recently received her full license—had driven my two other friends and me to my local Chick-fil-A about 20 minutes from her house. The drive to the Chick-fil-A was normal, there were no accidents or dangerous actions taken by other cars. Before arriving at Chick-fil-A, we decided that it would be best to shop at the Target that was adjacent to the restaurant. After spending around 30 or so minutes in the store, we made our way to Chick-fil-A. Upon parking at the parking spot, the car had suddenly sped forward, resulting in the car crashing into the side of the building. Perhaps the crash was caused by inexperience when driving at night or more likely that it was caused because her sandal was caught on the accelerator. After backing away from the wall, there was notable amount of damage to the front bumper of her car and the wall she ran into. This experience contributed to my understanding of the effect that specific shoes can have on your driving. Although no one was injured, this also taught me the importance of wearing the proper shoes while driving to prevent the possibility of a larger-scale accident happening because of wearing open-toe shoes.

To conclude, there are numerous steps that you can take to become a better and safer driver and as well as helping others become safer on the roads. Some essential steps that you can take include driving in weather conditions that you are comfortable in, examining road signs properly, and informing new drivers of tips that can help them become safer on the road. Driving in weather conditions that you are comfortable in prevents the possibility of a fatal accident happening because it shows that you are confident in your skills as a driver, meaning that you are better equipped for your driving session. If you are uncomfortable with driving in specific conditions, it is a sign that you do not have enough experience driving in said weather to feel confident in your skills as a driver. Not continuing to drive is safer than driving when uncomfortable because it prevents the possibility of a car accident resulting from inexperience while driving. Another step that allows you to become a better and safer driver for yourself and others is properly examining road signs. This action is highly important while driving and can prevent fatal accidents from happening because you would be correctly interpreting signs. If someone misreads a sign that informs them that their lane is ending, it can result in a collision because the driver did not properly prepare to change lanes. This would be preventable if the driver makes sure to properly inspect road signs. A final step that can be taken is to inform new drivers of safety techniques that they can utilize while driving. This contributes to their growth in safety as a driver, which can better protect themselves and others.