Rules of the Road

Within a couple of years of having my driver’s license, I was exposed to many instances that reinforced the importance of drivers ed. When I was a sophomore, a senior at my school lost control of her car and sadly did not survive. I know countless people who have totaled their cars and become injured all within the first year of having their licenses. I have observed irresponsible behaviors such as: speeding, poor use of turn signals, inconsistent seatbelt usage, texting while driving, putting on make-up while driving, and even tweezing eyebrows while driving. The list can go on and on. This just proves that drivers ed should not be an option. It should be mandatory and it needs to improve.

The importance of education should not be minimized. I am not talking about attending classroom sessions where a teacher is trying to educate students on driver safety, or about the use of standardized road course tests which, to me, do very little to assess a driver’s competency. Prospective drivers need hands-on, practical experience. This could be accomplished by mandating longer driver training permit periods. Training should be provided by multiple experienced drivers, all with good driving records. Parents should not be the only one’s providing “on the road” training as they may unknowingly teach unsafe practices. For optimal results, drivers should not receive licensure until they demonstrate safety operating their vehicles in multiple different environments, including urban, rural and metropolitan settings, if able.

Experienced drivers need to realize that they are setting an example for those around them. Experienced drivers need to wear their seat belts, slow down, stop texting, stop multi-tasking, and respect other drivers. If young, soon-to-be drivers observe unsafe driving habits then they are more likely to repeat those behaviors in the future.

Soon-to-be drivers need to provide feedback to experienced drivers because many drivers inadvertently display unsafe practices, not realizing how this compromises everyone’s safety. Experienced drivers need to take constructive feedback to heart and pay attention. Making the roads safer will be swifter and easier if everyone can work together.

A plan to make roads safer must address the use of electronics while driving. For years, the dangers of texting while driving have been shown, but it is still a common occurrence. Many innovations are now in place which inhibit unsafe practices while driving, but no one has successfully addressed limiting electronics use. A private or corporate sponsor should provide an incentive to anyone who creates a device that blocks and/or limits cell phone usage within a vehicle.

Anytime anyone gets behind the wheel he/she is responsible for how they drive and what they do, therefore, education and training are crucial. Every time I get behind the wheel, I wear my seatbelt, I make sure my passengers wear seatbelts, I follow speed limits, I stay off my phone, and I practice the “rules of the road”. Proper driver’s education could be the difference between life and death.