As necessary as it has become, operating a motorized vehicle is incredibly dangerous. Though car companies have worked to enhance the safety of their products, car accident fatalities are still common, being one of the top causes of death. Such instances would be increased tenfold if driving education courses were not required.
The first official driving education courses were established in the 1930s. These courses, continued and revised throughout the decades until this very day, are required so as to educate newcoming drivers about both the rules and dangers of the road. One can know the rules, they can follow them to a T, but not all drivers will abide by those rules, otherwise known as the law. Driving education works to prevent that. By informing people about the rules of the road and what it means to be behind the wheel, people will be more aware of the dangers of driving, and how to avoid being hurt.
To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, people can drive offensively. This means they can drive as if other drivers will not always be following the rules of the road. Drivers will be vigilant and prepared for others to make a potentially dangerous error. Along with driving offensively, people can practice safe driving with every trip they make. They will keep a watchful eye whilst operating the vehicle, avoid distractions, and follow the rules of the road. I know from experience that speeding can become a habit, so by going the exact speed limit each time I drive, that is what becomes the new habit. I practice this each time I am behind the wheel, as others should.
I have been in a car accident once before. My family and I were in the pickup, on our way to a swim meet. Just before we arrived, a man pulled up to us, while driving, and told us we were losing items from the truck bed. We pulled over and my dad got out, finding that the door had not been closed. It was but a minute later that I heard the screech of tires. I turned around to see a car headed our way, veering from the lane he was in; what a collision. Thankfully, there were no fatalities, no serious injuries among my family. The driver of the car at fault, however, was less lucky, emerging with a mangled foot. We learned shortly after that he was a firefighter, heading home from a night shift; he had fallen asleep behind the wheel. That had almost cost my dad his life. He had still been behind our truck when the oncoming driver hit his brakes, which my dad heard in time to jump out of the way before the vehicles collided. This is a prime example of when one should not be driving due to exhaustion and fatigue. His error nearly cost my dad his life and our family much pain. I am grateful this was the case; however, our pickup was totaled. His error cost us a vehicle, and medical bills. It is unsafe to operate a vehicle when tired. I know for fact that thousands of people go about driving in a state of exhaustion, myself being one of the numbers. I have since worked on myself to be able to drive safely. After experiencing the story related above, I do not wish to add to the number of crashes, particularly those caused by fatigued driving.
I have also seen friends and family members driving irresponsibly. There is one member in my family who constantly drives above the speed limit, typically ten to fifteen miles above. This makes me and others uncomfortable, nervous even. That speed difference could be the difference between life and death, or just a ticket if one chooses to look at it in a lighter way. This same person tends to drive distractedly, constantly looking at the surroundings rather than the road. Countless times I have gripped the door handle and told the driver to pay attention, as I felt and saw the car beginning to drift either into oncoming traffic or toward the guide rail, neither of which I wished to make a close encounter with.
To become a better and safer driver, I can take the time to review the rules of the road, being a newer driver myself. It will help to engrain the rules and precautionary measures I can take into my head. In addition to this, I can continue to practice driving safely by following the posted speed limit, using my signals, and driving on the offense. I can in turn relay such suggestions to others and inform them of when I feel that they are being unsafe or practicing unsafe habits while driving. I want myself and others to be safe on the road so we can enjoy driving rather than fear it.