Driving has become part of daily life for the majority of Americans across the nation. It is convenient and has transformed travel. What once was a two hour walk is now a twenty minute drive. American towns have been built around being drivable, not walkable. Roadways take priority over sidewalks, and not being able to drive puts a person at a major disadvantage in life. Due to this, the majority of American citizens rely on driving, but driving is not always safe. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in America. However, most of the time these deaths are completely preventable. This demonstrates the need for driver safety and education across the nation to allow people the convenience of driving without the dangers.
One way to prevent deaths due to driving is driver education. Driver education is important because it teaches those behind the wheel the importance of driving safely. This is done through topics such as traffic laws, defensive driving techniques, and hazard awareness. To start, traffic laws are important to know because it will prevent any confusion while driving. For example, when I moved to Alabama to start my college journey, I was unsure if it was legal to turn right on red (it is in my home state of New Jersey). I have come to learn it is, but if I turned right on red without checking if it was allowed, I could have caused a car accident if it was illegal. Additionally, defensive driving is important because every driver must know how far to stay behind the car in front of them, and what to do if they are driving behind a truck or a bad driver. Hazard awareness is also important to know because if a person gets stuck driving in rain or fog, conditions that cause a lot of accidents, they must know how to handle it. Personally, I believe it is best to pull over when driving through these conditions because I know the consequences of trying to drive in weather I am not comfortable with. Important steps that can be taken to reduce driving-related deaths are enforcing traffic laws, checking vehicle safety, and improving road infrastructure. Traffic laws must be enforced because speeding could cause the driver to be unable to stop when necessary. As well as that, if traffic laws are continuously broken with no consequences, then not many people would follow them. This would result in even more car accidents and driving related deaths. Every driver should also continuously check their car to make sure all of the safety features are functional. If airbags or seat belts go unchecked, they may not work when needed most. This will also increase the risk of a driving related death in case of an accident. Finally, road infrastructure is important because if a road is filled with potholes or tree branches, a car is much more likely to get into an accident. The government should continuously fund projects related to fixing road infrastructure, lighting on roads, and road cleanups after a storm.
I personally have been responsible for a car accident due to carelessness while driving. Just a few minutes after getting my license, I was driving in a parking lot and had to make a left turn out of a one way lane. There was a car to the right of me blocking my vision. He waved me to go in front of him, but instead of double checking to make sure it was clear, I just went. There was a car coming from the other direction, and I ended up hitting it and denting the door. Thankfully, we were only in a parking lot and going extremely slow, so there were no injuries and the cars were not badly damaged. I learned from this experience to always double check everything while driving and leave nothing up to chance. Although nothing horrible happened as a result of this accident, it taught me how quickly something bad can happen while driving. I have become a much more cautious driver because of that experience. To become a safer driver on the road I can avoid distracted driving, use my seatbelt, and review driver education. I will do this by never driving while on my phone, making sure my seatbelt is working properly, and reviewing my driver's education manual frequently.
In conclusion, driver education is extremely important and should be taken seriously by every person who drives. If America had better driver education, driving-related deaths could decrease dramatically. Speaking from first hand experience, being in a car accident is a very scary ordeal and it is completely preventable with the right education. Learning how to drive cautiously, learning the rules of the road, and learning when to be a defensive driver is important in protecting both your own well being and the well being of others. It is crucial to follow the rules of the road, always stay alert, and never forget a vehicle inspection.