I am a senior in High School. I have never been in a car accident, but I have heard tragic stories from friends and family. Driving is an important transportation method that is on a scale for most caused deaths. Many people do not take driving seriously by texting and driving, drinking and driving, or having other distractions while driving. I am part of an FCCLA program and one major activity we do is seatbelt checks. Before school, our FCCLA will meet up and break off to different sides of the school and check to see if people are wearing their seatbelts. This helps create data by knowing how many people do or do not wear their seatbelts which in turn helps us to plan programs that may benefit our community. To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, there are many factors to follow, such as strict enforcement of traffic laws, implementing safe driving habits, and improved road infrastructure.
Driver education has an impact on individuals because it provides skills and knowledge that are essential to driving. There are many factors when learning driver education, such as defensive driving techniques, risk awareness, and knowledge of traffic laws. Since some individuals do not see cops around, they tend to drive out of control. Therefore, strict enforcement of traffic laws could reduce individuals driving inappropriately. Implementing safe driving habits is a beneficial way to reduce deaths in driving as well. When a young adult becomes a driver, they tend to drive less or more aggressively resulting in car crashes. Implementing safe driving habits, such as distractions, proper vehicle maintenance, and wearing a seatbelt are all beneficial. Distractions like electronics are detrimental to not only one’s life, but everyone’s life. Proper vehicle maintenance can help with malfunctions of the vehicle and could lead to driving safely. Wearing a seatbelt has been the biggest issue from resulting in deaths while being in a car crash. Many people do not see the safety potential seatbelts have on a driver or passenger. When taking my FCCLA seatbelt checks early in the mornings, we see countless amounts of people that tend to not wear their seatbelt, which is detrimental in so many ways. That is putting themselves, people around them, and even their children in danger. I think these seatbelt checks are beneficial because it could change how the driver feels about not wearing their seatbelt. The feeling of guilt is what I see most on an individual's face because they feel blameworthy when not wearing their seatbelt. Hopefully, this feeling does occur and helps create the opportunity for the individual of why it is wrong. Therefore, the feeling of guilt will make them wear their seatbelts more often. I hate making people feel bad, but not wearing a seatbelt is like a crime. It truly is detrimental to yourself, people around you, and the people who love you.
My parents have both been in car wrecks that have impacted them to teach and learn about safe driving. According to Heather Oswald, she encountered being in a car accident. Oswald was sitting at a stop light in Emporia, Kansas, and the person behind her rammed into the back of her car. The reckless driver had told the cops she dropped her lipstick and was trying to pick it; therefore, she did not see the red light. Luckily, my mom and the other driver were safe, but it could have resulted in something worse. According to Josh Oswald, he was in a wreck that could have resulted in many people being hurt. In Oswald’s instance, he was hit while crossing an intersection. The reckless driver went past the stop sign and rammed into the side of my dad’s truck. Luckily, both cars, which were full of people, were safe. Due to a driver not understanding road infrastructure, resulted in a car crash. The stop sign was not seen close and was behind a tree from where the guy was viewing. Therefore, the stop sign was unable to be seen. Road infrastructure plays a key role in driver education.
Driving-related deaths and accidents can be reduced through driver education. As a leader, people look up to me in driving, so I need to drive safely to set a good example. Driving is an underlooked act that people use day to day. In order to reduce car wrecks and injuries, people need to know how these situations can affect other people and not just certain individuals. Driving education will majorly benefit because it allows individuals to fully understand the detrimental effects that can happen and how to reduce those chances. Allowing people to drive without knowledge of driving is dangerous not only for the individual, but the society.