Driving Safety

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number deaths because of driving?
 
 Driver education is so crucial when it comes to driving safety of the public. Oftentimes, the initial education that a new driver receives before passing their driving test is the only formal driving education they receive in their lifetime, unless they are ordered to take driving safety course by a judge after a traffic incident. Education, in my experience, has always been the one most crucial tool in empowering people to improve their lives. Education increases compliance and positive outcomes for people in many areas of life because, once you show someone how to help themselves, they usually will. By offering driver education, we are teaching people to fish. With that knowledge, they will continue to use that skill for the benefit of themselves and their communities. 
 

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?
 
 Steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include requiring a renewal of driver safety competencies before renewing one’s license every few years or so. This ensures that people remain conscious and competent drivers by holding them accountable for their skills and knowledge. It also provides people with opportunities to be updated on new standards and changes on the road over time. Many drivers go for decades without attending a driving course, which means their last formal education on what the road is like is outdated. If we increase education opportunities and ensure that drivers remain literate on the road throughout their lives, then maybe we can reduce the number of accidents on the road between drivers who have stopped being mindful when behind the wheel. 
 

Have you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?
 
 I have been in the car with people who are driving irresponsibly, and I have even experienced a car accident before. When my friend's mom was taking us home from basketball practice one day, we got into a collision with another car at an intersection, when they turned unexpectedly and hit the car from the side. The other driver was in a rush and trying to beat the red light, which had already turned, which meant that they were at the intersection much longer than they were supposed to be. It startled my friend's mom, and she could not maneuver in time to avoid the approaching vehicle. She was not driving irresponsibly, but, in high school, I was in the car with friends who were using their phones on the road, and I felt very unsafe.
 

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?
 
 I can ensure that I am giving the road and other drivers my full attention. I can comply with the rules of the road and not try to bend them for my own gain, endangering others around me in the process. I can ensure that my car is up to performance standards, that I am aware and fully capable before getting behind the wheel, and that I am calm and rational when making decisions on the road. I must prioritize my own safety and the safety of others to ensure that everyone reaches their destinations safely. 

 

Overall, the importance of driving safety cannot be understated. Every time that you get behind the wheel, you are taking your own life and the lives of others around you into your hands. At the same time, you are trusting your own life in strangers' hands as well. We are all in metal pods barrelling down the road at completely life-threatening speeds. It is in everyone's best interests to do so with a clear mind and a prepared body. We must be well-rested, focused, and level-headed when we drive. That way, we don't end or shorten someone else's life or our own. As long as we focus on ensuring that we and others are educated, enabled, and empowered, I believe that outcome is entirely possible. 

I, myself, will take advantage of the opportunity to reflect on these matters by becoming more mindful in my approach to driving and road safety. It is so, so important that we all take these matters seriously because they can be the difference between life and death for, not only us, but our loved ones who are with us, and our fellow community members, who are out there on the roads around us.