Driver’s education is extremely important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Without a solid understanding of all of the rules and the dangers of not following them, driving could be hazardous. Many dangerous actions people partake in while driving, can be seen as something “small” and “quick”. For example, if someone is driving and goes on their phone to check a message that was sent to them, a friend of theirs could inform them that it’s dangerous. A regular response to them saying that is, “It was only a second”. If people were informed about how quickly an accident can happen, they may change their minds and break that habit. A huge step that can be taken is educating all drivers. There are so many different aspects of driving that are important. People should be taught regular vehicle maintenance and safety standards. It is easy for people to not do research about their cars and drive around not knowing about problems with their cars or not taking problems seriously. Everyone must learn the legal side of doing things like speeding, driving without a seatbelt, DUIs, and being on your phone while driving. Everyone knows that these are bad things and they should not do these things, but they often disregard it, because they don’t fully grasp the consequences. This could be taken care of by taking a step of enforcing traffic laws. This could be done by stronger enforcement of current laws. Another step that could be taken is stricter licensing and driver behavior monitoring. As technology has progressed, people cheat on their permit testing and never learn basic rules about driving on the road. Strengthening graduated licensing for young drivers could prevent simple mistakes that cause driving accidents. It is also important to regularly reassess elderly drivers to ensure they are still capable of driving safely, due to health conditions that rise as people get older. The last step that could be taken is for data to be collected and analyzed. If data is continuously taken and analyzed on road accidents, people can identify patterns, high-risk locations, and behaviors. This then could guide further interventions and policies.
Only a few months into having my license, I hit a parked car in a parking lot. I had my ex-boyfriend in the car and got distracted. What started as a shopping spree turned into crying on the side of the road, waiting for my mom to arrive. This incident weighed on my mind for days. Every time I got into the car, I felt anxious about reversing. It took a few months for me to get over my fear of reversing, but the dent in my car is always there. Although that was the only accident I have been in, my family has had several incidents with cars. My mom, for example, has been in several accidents where none were her fault. This has caused her to be cautious about who she gets in the car with, and her new fear of driving next to semi-trucks. My mom’s accidents highlight the fact that it's not only important to be self-conscious of your driving, but also to be aware of the driving behaviors of those around you. Many of my friends and family members go on their phones while they are driving, which is very common and extremely dangerous. My boyfriend is someone I experienced driving irresponsibly by speeding often and not wearing his seatbelt. A major step I can take to become a safer and better driver is to stop looking at my phone while I drive. Although I don’t do this often, I recognize that it’s a dangerous distraction. Even something as simple as checking a text can lead to a serious crash because not all of your attention is on the road. I encourage my friends to let me handle their phones when we’re in the car so they can focus on driving. I also remind them of the dangers of not wearing a seatbelt, often sharing stories about accidents I know of to emphasize the importance of this safety measure. While this might come off as pushy, it’s a way to educate them and ensure the message sticks. My personal experiences, as well as those of my family and friends, highlight how easily accidents can occur and how important it is to stay vigilant on the road. By making an effort to educate others, follow traffic laws, and practice safe driving habits, we can all contribute to making the roads safer for everyone.