Operating a motor vehicle is a privilege; nobody is owed an opportunity to drive in the public domain. For that reason, it’s extremely disappointing, and frightening when somebody abuses those privileges; causing avoidable incidents that result in financial ruin, and in extreme situations, bodily harm. Thankfully, I’ve never been in an accident that caused me physical harm; although, my psychological state was affected which resulted in having anxiety attacks every time I step into a vehicle. I obtained my drivers license in 2019, but waited a full year until I felt comfortable enough to drive. Unfortunately, my mother wasn’t so lucky. She lost her hearing many years ago when another car slammed into her; she wears hearing aids to cope with her impairment. We must be mindful how individual actions affect others.
Drivers ed should be a top priority in everyone’s daily life, including those that don’t drive. I’m disheartened to learn many k-12 schools around the United States don’t offer driving classes; a failure in the general education system. Students need to learn from a young age that driving isn’t just an impressive skill to have, but one that needs to be taken extremely seriously. It doesn’t need to be complicated; learning your states driving laws would be a great start, and maybe even having a section on campus reserved for practice. For adults, the same could be applied; researching how often laws change on a yearly basis. In addition, understanding how drugs impact your ability to drive. Pedestrians also have a responsibility to mind the road; just because you have the right-of-way, doesn’t mean you're above the law.
An excellent drivers policy should reward and punish behavior. The Nevada Highway Patrol reported 65 fatal crashes that resulted in 70 deaths in 2019. It may seem trivial, but even one death is too high, and could be avoided. In Nevada there is a 12 point demerit system. Infractions are assigned a point value, and once you reach 12 points, your license is suspended. If you attend traffic school, you can take 3 points off your record; this policy encourages citizens to improve on their behavior. There are several penalties, but not enough rewards. Perhaps you could receive financial compensation from the government for maintaining a safe driving environment, or be rewarded a new car! Either way, rewarding good behavior should be considered above all else.
There are numerous ways people can become better drivers. Personally, avoiding and coping with my anxiety is a tough challenge. To counter this, I take short trips around my vicinity; driving frequently makes me feel confident in my abilities to be a responsible driver. I still prefer having a more experienced driver with me in case anything goes wrong. From constant observation, I realized many people don’t follow basic safety guidelines; wearing seatbelts, and staying in a specific lane among other things. Reviewing the fundamentals is important. Driving is a privilege not to be taken for granted.