Driver education is definitely an essential part of someone being able to drive safely on the roads. This not only protects them, but also others around them. Many accidents are caused by improper driving, such as failure to yield at appropriate signs, failure to stop, turning when they’re not supposed to, merging improperly. By educating the drivers on the road, they will be more equipped with knowledge on how to proceed in such situations and how to best handle them. This will lead to fewer accidents and fewer deaths on the road. The steps that can be taken to prevent this would be mandated driver education for everyone getting a driver's license, as well as specific classes that would need to be renewed every so often. It could be every five, ten, or fifteen years. The initial classes need to be done in person, as well as the person given the opportunity to learn by hands on driving with an appropriate instructor. The renewals could be done either in person, or online. If there have been many infarctions on a specific person's record, then they should be mandated to come to in person classes and refresh their knowledge. Cars should also be equipped with tools that ensure safe driving as well. These include not engaging while a person is on the phone, or touch screens not being able to be used while in driving motion. Phones should also be equipped with technology that will cause them not to work unless the person is stopped in their car. Several newer cars and phones have been equipped with this technology, however, older models are not. There should be required add ons to vehicles to ensure everyone has access to this technology, in turn, reducing the number of distracted drivers on the road. Everyone should be able to have this and have access to this, protecting everyone's lives and ensuring safety on the road.
I myself have been in a car accident, and I have also seen friends & family members drive irresponsibly. In the car accident that I was in, the driver was not paying attention and tried to pass me on a double line on the left while I was making a left hand turn. This resulted in my car being struck on the drivers side and totaling my vehicle. Had the other driver been paying attention and heeded to the signage on the road, this accident would have been appropriately avoided. Friends and family that I have been driving with have also driven irresponsibly from time to time. There have been instances where they answer their phones, or struggle with the radio or bluetooth while driving. I have had to remind them to keep their eyes on the road and I have handled what they were trying to do in order to keep them focused on the road and not something else. I have also had to remind them to slow down in specific areas, or to hit the brakes when they didn’t notice another car ahead of us came to a complete stop. I have also been the designated driver for several friends, keeping them safe and ensuring themselves or others were not harmed from someone driving under the influence.
The steps I can make to become a better driver would be to ensure that all distractions are gone while I am driving. There needs to be steps that are checked off before I engage my car in driving. I also need to be 100% focused on the road, and help teach my children that while I am driving all of my focus needs to be on that. I am unable to see what they’re trying to show me or look at them while on the road. This will in turn help them learn and understand the importance of safe driving and not driving distracted. They will keep this knowledge with them until they themselves become drivers. Teaching is showing, and learning is doing. I can also always make sure I go the speed limit. The limits are put in place for a reason, and following them keeps us all safe. Additional steps I can take would be to have my childrens car seats checked by a technician to ensure the appropriate fit and seat for them. Car seats are manufactured according to children’s height and weight, and I always need to make sure I follow those guidelines in order to keep my children safe. They need to be in some type of car seat restraint system at least until the age of 13, potentially more if they are unable to sit with a seatbelt properly. This in turn helps them stay safe if there is an accident.