Driving is a Worldwide Activity

Driving is a worldwide activity.

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving?

               The importance of driver education is crucial to anyone who gets behind the wheel. Knowing what to do in any situation is key to safe driving. Everyone should take a driver’s education class to understand the rules of the road.

              Some of the rules include reading and recognizing road signs, how speed limits should be obeyed, and how to accommodate ice and rain. In situations of heavy rain, some people are not informed about hydroplaning. This can lead to accidents between multiple cars or someone losing control, leading them to go off-road, possibly hitting a tree.

               Ice can be even more dangerous when driving. Control of the vehicle can be more difficult, especially if the driver has no knowledge of driving in snow and ice. Another important thing to know while driving is blind spots. Accidents can happen because someone does not understand or even know about blind spots. Merging is very dangerous without checking blind spots.

                When uninformed about all these road hazards, they can cause their own death or hit other cars, costing the loss of another person's life.

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

               A big reason for car crashes and deaths is the use of a phone while driving. Phones need to be on silent and put away while driving. Other distractions include eating, fixing the radio, and doing make-up. These activities can be done before the vehicle hits the road.

             If a driver gets fast food, they need to wait until they are stopped in a proper place, like home or in a parking lot, before eating. Spilling food can lead to one’s focus being somewhere else. While focus should be on the road now, distractions about the car getting dirty can happen. That split second to look away can cause an accident so quickly. 

             It does not even have to include another vehicle; while attention is drawn somewhere else, the car could run off the road straight for a tree or worse, a pedestrian walking along the side of the road. These actions need to be stopped before they start. Eat when it’s safe.

              Fixing the radio, eyes leave the road, and they should never do so. The radio needs to stay fixed from the moment the car leaves the driveway until the destination is reached. Makeup does not need to be done while driving; do it before leaving the house if it is a must.

              Your life and another’s life are more important than smudged lipstick. All distractions can be delt with before the car is moving.

Have you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

               Yes, thankfully, everyone in the vehicle was uninjured, and no other cars were involved. Safety comes in all shapes and sizes, and the bumper saved us a lot more than I thought. 

The truck had a blowout. Our driver swerved to the left, entering the other lane instead of pulling onto the shoulder. Luckily, no one was driving towards us, but the driver should never have gone to the left. We hit a tree off to the side of the road.

                The important part was that everyone was wearing their seat belts, and the bumper took most of the blow. This was the only car accident I have ever been in, but I have had many family members who died because of worse circumstances.

                One of my cousins was out riding with his friends one day, and a drunk driver drove straight at them. His friend slammed on the brakes. My cousin went through the windshield because he was not wearing his seat belt. The drunk driver kept driving and hit them, pinning my cousin between the two cars, causing him to pass away. Two reasons he lost his life that day: he was not wearing a seat belt and a drunk person was driving in a different vehicle.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver, as well as help others become safer on the road?

               The number one step I take before driving is to make sure all seat belts are buckled, mine and the passengers’. Before I leave the driveway, I check the mirrors, make sure I know where I’m going, and take note of the weather and speed limit. I look both ways and wait patiently if a car is coming. It is safer to wait than to rush. I do not allow passengers to distract me, and I always pay attention to other drivers. Just because I know the importance of driver education does not mean everyone else knows.