It is very important that those who are starting to drive, and those who drive every day make conscious decisions to be a safer driver on the road. It is a privilege to be able to obtain and keep a drivers license, yet still you see people behaving in unsafe manners on the road on a regular basis. Sure, people make mistakes, but on the road one mistake can cost a life. It is important to be aware of things you can do to be a safer driver and help ensure the safety of others on the road as well. One way that people are inclined to be a safer driver is the requirement of a five hour driving course, or something similar.

The five hour course is designed for teenagers to be able to obtain a license at an early age, and prepare them for driving on the road. However, though it is possible for teens to acquire licensure early on, it does not necessarily reduce the amount of car crashes that involve teenagers. There is a lot more to driving that you aren't able to really prepare for, until you find yourself in that situation and have to react quickly and safely. It is also found to be very similar in drivers that are older as well. Although some improvement is shown in knowledge, awareness, and overall performance on the road, the actual number of car crashes involving older people is also never lowered.

Safe driving courses, though usually mandated before even taking a road test, have not been proven to actually reduce the amount of road injuries or crashes in drivers of that demographic. However, an analysis of research evidence about driver training for older people, showed that if the material is specifically tailored to an older individual, their behind the wheel performance and overall improved driver ability led to reduced crashes. In the end, there are many ways to reduce the number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents.

Interventions aimed at increasing seat belt and car seat use, reducing drunk driving and speed-related crashes, and protecting pedestrians can reduce deaths from motor vehicle crashes. I have been in the car many times while friends had been driving in an unsafe manner, and have come too close to causing bad accidents. At the time my friends and I were teenagers, and it seemed like many people in my age group had been taking the privilege of driving for granted. People make mistakes, but on the road it is never worth the risk.

I, myself, have actually made extremely unsafe decisions while driving as a young adult. Those choices led directly to me getting arrested for a DUI. I had been around others for so long that chose to drink and drive, and although I knew better, I became just as bad. I wound up getting caught because I crashed my car into the side of someone’s house one night. I had gotten away with it for a while, and never once thought about anyone but myself. Not the safety of other drivers or pedestrians, I had no respect for the laws or even my license, and I thought I was invincible. This was a huge wake up call for me, and it changed my life. The thought of having been lucky to not have actually killed someone was a shock that remains to me even to this day, and something I will forever be grateful for.

There are many practices people should have naturally in order to be a safe driver. To start, an individual should be aware of the adjustments of all mirrors and their seat so that they are able to see everything they need to and be comfortable and safe while driving. Drivers also should maintain their focus on the road and those around them, as many drivers today you see on cell phones or doing other things while also being in control of a vehicle. Distractions while driving are always risky, and it’s not just your life you're risking. A seemingly simple thing, like wearing your seatbelt, could mean the difference between life and death, and is also a very important part of being a driver.

Although it has been shown that drivers ed courses don’t necessarily lead to less crashes, I believe they can still show just how important it is to be a safe and aware driver. One thing that I believe could help with this is the driver impact panel course. It’s a course that I was required to take after I crashed my car. It showed the dangers of drinking and driving, and was taught by the parents of a young child who’s life was lost due to someone being under the influence on the road. They even brought with them the bent up bicycle he had been riding when he was hit. Needless to say, the story and that bike really hit me in the gut. To have that example, that raw real example of unsafe driving and its consequences, immediately affected me. That’s a feeling I never got in those courses that are mandated for teens to become drivers. I believe that if we include graphic real world examples of things like this, whether it be an accident from being under the influence, or being on your cell phone, it could possibly help people to realize how serious driving is while they're still in high school. Overall, it may help strengthen driving courses so that maybe they can start reducing the crashes involving teens who are new to driving. If you show them these things, I can guarantee they will always remember how important safety on the road is.