My journey through driver's education differed slightly from that of my peers. At fifteen, I was not thinking about starting my experience as a new driver; all my attention was now shifted to navigating life through a global pandemic. When I turned 16, I began my online driver’s education course. Still, I would fall in and out of the motivation to complete the chapters while managing an arduous workload and athletic schedule. By 17, I managed to find the time necessary to conclude my online driver’s education, and finally obtained my driver's license. Despite this tremendous achievement, I avoided long routes and highways with fear of making a mistake in such a high-risk environment. But now being 19 and having to drive to my full-time summer job everyday pushed me to confront my fears in driving and doing so while exercising caution. As I continued to develop my experience, becoming more knowledgeable about the factors of driving and familiarizing myself with the routes I take made driving a more enjoyable experience.
In my driver’s education course, I vividly remember watching numerous videos where drivers recalled their own frightening experiences with driving due to a lack of safety measures taken; these situations not only put their own lives at risk but also those of their loved ones. Some drivers did not live to share their stories, and the gruesome images shown of the accidents further reinforced the importance that everyone should take in driving safely, and how it should not be taken lightly. The strong appeal to emotion conveyed through the images and videos shown to me during the safety chapter of this course profoundly shaped my approach and mindset toward driving as I began to spend more time driving and navigating through more complex and longer routes. Without this powerful approach applied, I probably would not hold driving safety with the same degree of importance as I do now. Shedding light on how driving is already a high-risk action emphasizes how a seemingly surface-level task can become deadly in seconds.
Analyzing one’s driving environment can also make an impact on the number of traffic fatalities. This entails paying attention to what is happening behind, next to, and in front of you as you drive to your destination. By keeping this awareness, you can adjust your driving behaviors and habits, such as slowing down or making complete stops when necessary. The speed limit is based on optimal driving conditions and should be adjusted depending on the traffic environment to ensure safer driving. Additionally, it is imperative to check one’s surroundings thoroughly before changing lanes. I will admit there were instances where I would only take a glance only to find myself nearly colliding with a speeding car honking to alert me. I can still recall the sweat beading on my forehead and the feeling of distress that took me over as soon as I steered back into my original lane. These kinds of experiences reinforced my perception of the critical nature of safety in driving.
Awareness of each driver is as important as paying attention to overall traffic conditions. Consider situations where a driver ahead of you is driving significantly slower than the given speed limit or even changing lanes erratically. One cannot assume that all drivers are in the proper mindset or physical condition to be able to drive, so it is best to steer clear of these drivers and maintain a safe distance from them when possible.
In this digital age, the urge to pick up our devices to check notifications or interact with music controls is strong. Even with driving, an already high-risk action, we cannot suppress the urge to do so. I find the Do Not Disturb mode on my phone helpful, as well as its ability to sense driving and silence notifications automatically. However, even with the availability of these precautions, car stereos with touch screens or digital interfaces have become more widespread. When we hear a song we do not want to listen to or accidentally switch the station somehow, we automatically reach for the interface to change the station or skip a song. These tasks, though seemingly quick, can divert your attention from driving. Recently, my dad was involved in an incident involving a distracted driver; my dad slowed down to yield to oncoming traffic from his left side to cross over to the next lane when suddenly a truck rear-ends his car. Luckily, the hit only produced a small dent on the bumper, and the driver took responsibility for the hit due to being distracted by changing the station on his radio. This situation emphasizes how even a brief distraction can lead to mild or even severe accidents. It is essential to choose music or stations prior to driving and handle phone calls safely by pulling over to a secure location nearby or on the roadside while prioritizing your safety and the safety of others on the road. The same would be true for setting up routes on the interface to avoid configuring the map while driving.
While our individual actions as drivers contribute to the larger mission of decreasing driving-related fatalities, it is also important to include legislative advocacy within this effort. Legislative efforts play a significant role in addressing driving challenges linked to safety risks. Implementing lower speed limits in residential areas and in public spaces frequented by pedestrians, along with speed monitoring checkpoints, are effective measures. Enhancing roadway infrastructure to improve navigability and regularly maintaining roads to prevent hazards like potholes are vital steps. The presence of these hazards make it more likely for drivers to engage in impulsive decisions. Establishing and funding awareness programs for road safety can promote safe driving behaviors and emphasizing the significance of a clear and focused mindset behind the wheel, instead of succumbing to road rage or other negative emotions encountered while driving or even before driving. These collective efforts are key to achieving safer road conditions and therefore reducing fatal driving-related incidents.
While I may not boast extensive experience, I am gradually stepping out of my comfort zone by increasing my time on the road and exploring new driving opportunities. Through this journey, I have gained valuable insights into the factors crucial for driver and road safety, including small details that tend to be overlooked. By embracing these lessons and applying them to regular driving behaviors, drivers can become more mindful of their behaviors behind the wheel, leading to a proactive approach to identifying and correcting unsafe driving practices and therefore contributing to the decrease in fatalities on the road.