To master any skill, one must make time to study. Education in any subject will always lead to progress, which is why driver education is crucial for those preparing to be on the road. The statistics of deaths in America due to unsafe driving are the consequences of neglecting driver-ed courses and following a trend of reckless driving. Without knowledge of the road, there’s no hope that a person will perform safely in that environment. When I was in middle school, I remember organizations and their staff visiting the campus to give presentations on safe driving. From this, I’ve been mindful of how to be safe while driving since a young age. Driver education is more than instructing a person behind the wheel. It conditions the upcoming driver to be mindful of their surroundings, train their attention span, and show a great amount of responsibility.
The presentations about safe driving always highlighted the results of driving unsafely. Images of fatal accidents and grieving families almost force individuals to sympathize and reflect on their choices before traveling. I’ve seen the trends around luxurious and fast cars more than I’ve seen safe-driving advertisements, which show a decline in the message. This is the exact opposite of what our generation needs. If more organizations continue to promote and advocate for driver education to increase safer drivers, this could be the first step to reducing the number of deaths related to driving. Promote what cautious driving looks like rather than how fast or expensive a car is. Redirect the new generation of drivers and remind them that no matter the model or brand, what’s important is how it’s used. Another factor in deaths related to driving is driving under the influence, another unsafe habit that has been influenced by our generation. The conversation around driving under the influence only continues to increase by the year. These discussions should especially be held at college campuses, considering that most students who attend are of the legal age to drink. Remind students that meeting the legal age does not disregard the law of driving under the influence. Though these stories are everywhere online, people are still given a choice to do their research or not. My suggestion for the steps to take is to make people have this conversation. It will be uncomfortable, and it should be, considering there is nothing comfortable about reckless driving and the deaths that occur because of it. Include it in high school or college studies. Remind them that even if they practice safe driving, they still have the choice to pass the message on to the next person.
I didn’t acquire my license until I was 18 years old. My first and only accident happened in November 2022. It happened in the parking lot entrance of the community college I attended. Despite the driver's ed course(s) I took, my first year of driving while licensed always made me anxious. Every day, I witnessed people driving recklessly around me, but I always reminded myself that if I did what was right, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Unfortunately, this mindset did not stop me from having such an intense experience. My first initial thoughts were “Am I in trouble?” “Did I hurt someone?” It felt like a million questions came to mind all at once, and I nearly had a panic attack. The accident was not fatal, and no one was injured. It was a result of me not being as aware as I should have been, and the other person choosing to be reckless rather than patient. On top of this experience, I have been in the car with people who drove irresponsibly. Running lights, cutting people off, speeding, and even being distracted while driving. From these experiences, I can state that whether you’re the driver or passenger, the victim or the perpetrator, the results of unsafe driving will affect all of those involved. I questioned my financial situation, I sympathized with the person who hit me and considered the financial problems they’d possibly face from the accident. But most importantly, I questioned if I was qualified enough to continue driving.
It took me a couple of months to feel comfortable enough to drive further than the distance to my CC campus. During this time, I always asked for someone to accompany me as I ran small errands. I received counseling to ease the anxiety I had when it came to driving, which also assisted in building my confidence to drive independently again. Though I had already completed a driver education course, I chose to self-educate myself by watching how others drove. As a passenger, I mostly stare out the window or at my phone, which I chose to redirect to watching the driver. Examples of what I learned are parallel parking, how long they would stop at signs, and exiting or entering freeways. Because of this, I became a much better driver. My mindfulness extended to other drivers on the road as well. I choose to be patient rather than have road rage, allowing others to face the consequences of their reckless driving while I remain safe and cautious. There are a few relatives and friends who are beginning the process of their driving experience. My way of helping them is by handing them the resources that helped me prepare and answering their questions honestly. If I believe that I don’t have the experience to answer their questions, I’ll help them find it by doing research with them. The best suggestion I will always have is to find a driver education program that is a good fit for them. There hasn’t been a time when I didn’t highlight the importance of driver education. Considering a driving course will always be a conversation worth having.