The importance of taking driver’s education courses in reducing the number of deaths due to driving is that it builds the foundation for the importance of safe driving in young students. When I was in driver’s education, although it seemed repetitive and unnecessary at times, it ultimately taught me the huge responsibility that driver’s carry. In driver’s education, they showed us numerous examples of young drivers getting in accidents that either hurt themselves or other people. This initiated a slight sense of fear but it taught me the weight of being behind the wheel. When we first get our driver’s license, we feel a sense of freedom and power, but driver’s education also taught me the immense responsibility that is coupled with that power. As teenagers, obtaining our driver’s license is our first big step into adulthood and doing things for ourselves. I remember my first time driving alone and the excitement that washed over me as I could go anywhere and do anything. That is why I believe it is so important that our driver’s education courses continue to share these eye opening experiences of why to drive safely in order that students never forget how much responsibility they have as a driver. Perhaps we could even share more stories than necessary to truly implement into student’s minds that there are consequences for irresponsible actions, especially on the road.
I believe some steps that we can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving would be to promote undistracted driving. As I learned in driver’s education, distracted driving is usually the main cause for accidents. We need to make people more aware of this fact and continue to discourage and ban distractions while operating a vehicle. Nothing on our phones is worth the loss of a life. This could be done through social media, could be taught in our driver’s ed courses more in depth and in our school systems in general. The more we can promote focused and undistracted driving, the safer roads will be. Another step that could be taken is including more light up speed limit signs throughout higher traffic areas. Personally, I am more inclined to slow down when the sign is flashing at me to slow down and is portraying my exact speed to other vehicles around me instead of the standard speed limit signs. I have also seen these particular signs cause others to drive slower and focus on the road. These specific signs make a difference and should be more abundant in our communities.
A personal experience that taught me to always be focused and drive safely is when I was rear-ended as a result of a distracted driver. I was in the car with my mom and all three of my brothers. We had stopped at the bottom of a hill to allow pedestrians to cross and were pummeled in the back by a young girl on her phone. It was truly miraculous that we were stopped there to prevent this girl from hitting the pedestrians. This experience taught me and my family the importance of being alert and safe when driving. You never know the cost that could result from driving distracted and unsafely. I hope that accident taught the young girl to drive safely and to inspire others to do the same. My family and I left that accident quite shaken up with only some slight neck aches and a dent in the back of our suburban. However, we could only think about what could have happened that day if we had not been blocking the lives of those pedestrians. The way we drive does not only affect us, but can impact so many others around us.
Finally, some steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others to become safer on the road is to share this car accident experience with as many people as I can. Hopefully, hearing my story and stories like these will give people a real picture of the responsibility they possess as a driver. I will also purchase a phone stand for my vehicle to prevent looking down with gps and music choices and encourage others to do the same. I will also speak out as I notice family members and friends driving irresponsibly and use my social media platforms to share stories of how crucial safe driving is. Although these steps are small, I hope that they can begin an electrical wave of safe driving awareness that spreads and creates safer roads for everyone.