I feel driver education is the most important that it has ever been. There are so many distractions that can impact your ability to drive safely. Historically, driving impaired due to alcohol and drugs was the number one cause of driving accidents and deaths. I feel today that mobile phones are as or more dangerous a threat. I see so many people texting, sending photos, looking at social media or surfing the internet while driving.
A big part of driver education needs to be not only teaching how to drive and what to do while on the road but also what not to do when operating an automobile. It is imperative that drivers understand the responsibility not only to the safety of themselves and passengers, but also the other drivers on the road. It is critical that you limit the number of distractions when driving so your focus is actual on driving! Paying attention is an essential element of being a safe driver.
It is very important to know the signs and signals on the road as well so you’re able to make the correct decisions while driving. The more educated we are on the rules of the road, will make everyone a better and most importantly a safer driver.
The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are driver education, safety training, and law enforcement. It is critical that drivers understand the risks associated with operating a motor vehicle. In essence, every time you are behind the wheel you run the risk of having an accident and that accident can be fatal. We need to make sure the car is serviced and is safe to operate. We need to make sure we are ALWAYS wearing our seatbelt as it has been proven that seatbelts save lives. When faced with hazardous weather or environmental conditions, we reduce our speeds, pull over, to ensure our safety.
Following the laws is extremely important in reducing deaths and preventing accidents. The rules of the road exist to allow us to drive in a safe environment. Breaking those rules can lead to accidents and fatalities for not only the driver but others on the road. Driving recklessly is endangering not only to yourself as a driver and your passengers but also everyone else around you. I think having people who have been victims, whether themselves or family/friends speaking at safety classes on how their lives were changed by a driving accident is extremely powerful. This will reinforce the importance of safety and bring real examples of consequences when driving recklessly.
Another way is to also have people who have committed a crime while driving unlawfully speak about the consequences of that decision and how that impacted their lives. Being convicted of a crime that results in jail, driving privileges revoked, or the death of others has lifelong consequences for everyone involved. How one bad decision can change lives forever.
I ride with one of my family members often and one of the things I noticed is that he gets very angry at other drivers. While he normally drives safely and responsibly, when experiences this “road rage” he can drive recklessly in response to the other driver. I think road rage has become a very real threat that is not talked about enough. This can lead to accidents, intentional crashes, fights, and even murder. I feel this is a topic we need to speak more about and encourage everyone to stay calm while driving. No matter what happens it is important to maintain your composure so you do not make an emotional decision that you or someone else cannot walk away from.
The steps I will take to become a better and safer driver are the following: I will make sure while driving I am focusing on myself and the drivers around me. I will limit distractions by not texting, only talking on the phone through the radio, and not looking at social media. I will also make sure I drive defensively and follow the rules of the road. Give yourself enough time to make sure you are driving within the speed limit and not being reckless because you’re running late. I learned from my family members not to get angry or upset. It is very dangerous to engage in road rage and it can quickly escalate into a very dangerous situation.
Lastly, I would love to share with others the importance of driving safely. As a young lady, I want everyone to understand the responsibility that comes with driving and how important it is to do so as safely as possible. It’s a privilege to be able to drive, go to different places, visit friends and families, and have a good time. I want to be able to help make sure we don’t become victims or perpetrators of a driving fatality.