Driving as a whole is a privilege, a large responsibility that can make your life a bit easier. However, if you don’t know how to wield the vehicle you drive, just as if you didn’t know how to use the weapon you wield you become a danger to society, those around you, and yourself resulting in numerous deaths.
Driver education can greatly reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving by providing the proper education needed for each individual. Without driver education as an implemented system before driving officially, several individuals would lack the necessary roadside knowledge i.e. preparing for certain weather conditions, what specific traffic signs mean, and the right of way rules, or general safety rules that keep our streets safe.
While reckless drivers still exist despite the implemented education system, imagine how a world full of them would be, with everyone making up their own right of way or speeding if they're in a rush. It would be a danger to society and the number of vehicular deaths would ramp up exponentially. Currently, the mortality rate is at a whopping 13.8 per 100,000 individuals. Something we can do as a community to reduce this percentage is to really reinforce driver knowledge, and give it the same permissions or requirements as owning a weapon, driving is a privilege, and a car can be a mode of transport or a device of death.
We can work to reduce vehicular accidents by reinforcing the necessary education requirements and responsibilities a person holds when driving. Or by doubling down on preexisting reprimands, if someone is caught with a substance while driving, if someone is caught dangerously speeding, etc, their cars would be confiscated. Using their lack of responsibility over an individual puts their mind in a place where they have to think about their actions, process, and learn from their mistakes so that they’ll be able to be more responsible the next time they are allowed on the road.
On top of everything the most important thing while learning the way of the road is who you are being educated by, whether it be yourself or a certified instructor it is key to have a professional teaching you, being taught by an ill-trained instructor could lead to lack of information and endanger yourself as well as other drivers around you.
While I haven’t experienced a catastrophic accident myself, someone very dear to me has, my father. This accident greatly impacted the trajectory of our relationship and his workflow, he had to take several days off after being unable to properly function due to the pain caused following the accident, his neck and back had been seriously damaged preventing overexertion, and the pain continues to haunt him to this day.
The course of the accident went as follows, he was on his way to work driving through the fast lane, and just before reaching an exit, he noticed the traffic beginning to slow. So he began reducing his speed to about 20 mph. Suddenly, a truck hurtled into the back of his car. Resulting in the entire rear end being totaled, shattered backlights, a trunk crumpled into an amalgamation, and the back bumper left barely intact. Despite everything, I'm so grateful that he is safe in our home today.
To become a better driver and prevent further incidents like my family and several others have suffered, I can fill myself with as much knowledge as there is to know about driver safety and road regulations while ensuring I drive passively. Passive driving is a key detail towards safety as it ensures the safety of yourself and others while obeying roadside laws. By ensuring I obey traffic laws and spreading my knowledge to other local drivers near me such as my acquaintances, I can help others maintain road safety. While I can't consistently check on them to confirm they’re doing their part I can help maintain their awareness by sending resources of better and safer driving techniques as well as accident safety campaigns.
Overall, driver education plays a crucial role in preventing vehicular incidents from happening. To further prevent mishaps it's important to share the roadside knowledge you carry and consume as much as you can for yourself. Even if you start in a small area like your hometown, driving carefully, and consistently while spreading safety knowledge can help greatly reduce the mortality rates of vehicular-related incidents. We carry the power to prevent the pain that has impacted so many lives, so it’s our responsibility to use it.