Coming from personal experience, driver’s education is a commodity that can be essential to even the most experienced drivers. The only downfall is that Drivers Ed is not viewed as a necessity rather than something you have to pay out of pocket for. Drivers’ education teaches you about the benefits of knowing the rules and regulations of the roads such as knowledge of traffic laws, defensive driving techniques and reduced risk of collisions. The courses teach you the rules of the road ensuring drivers are informed about regulations and avoids individuals from committing violations if you know the gravity of your actions. Defensive driving helps drivers anticipate potential hazards reducing the risk of accidents. This makes it a safer alternative to just learning how to drive from a relative. Even though there is nothing wrong with picking up something fast if you adapt, there can be consequences to not knowing the gravity of what it means to drive. New drivers are excited to become independent and can be lost within that illusion to not see it for what it is, a huge responsibility.
More mandatory driver’s education such as comprehensive driving courses mandatory for all new drivers could emphasize defensive driving, hazard recognition, and reduce distracted drivers. This can be accomplished through more free education to new drivers. Tightening of traffic law enforcement could also minimize car deaths such as higher consequences for violations like speeding, DUI’s and texting while driving. Another example could be automated enforcements such as speed cameras to catch offenders without the need for constant human oversight. Another great way to minimize vehicular disaster is to combat distracted driving through legislation, passing and enforcing bans on texting and handheld phones while driving.
I had an experience when I was eighteen coming off of work from Ross, I was T-boned by a massive SUV in Houston, TX. Paramedics rushed to the scene, and I was in an intensive care unit for over a week. Afterwards I had to attend many excruciating physical recovery appointments where I felt like I was losing all of my time not feeling any better. I began to go into a depressive episode where I felt like life was happening all around me but not to me, it was the darkest place I’ve ever been in. The accident was caused by a drunk driver that was ignoring the right of way that major road drivers have when passing through smaller adjacent streets. I never saw the man again and he never even apologized for what he had caused in my life. That is why I am an adamant supporter of driver’s education and the benefits it can provide.
No one really pays attention to their driving because it comes from a naturalistic standpoint that if you are safe inside, nothing else matters. It is this psychological dilemma that leads to pedestrians having a harder time getting by without being in a vehicle safely. Investing in reasonable and affordable public transportation systems reduces the number of vehicles on the road. I personally began using the Houston Metro System as I began my first year on campus close to downtown Houston despite having a car. Without systems like these in areas not as popular such as a rural area there tends to be more accidents in vehicles. Turning back to the psychological dilemma parents also play a large role in demonstrating greater driving skills for their younger generations. Communities would greatly benefit from having organizations that encourage parents and experiences drivers to model safe behavior for younger drivers.
Improving driver education and strengthening traffic laws is just the first step though. Addressing drunk and impaired driving is another major factor to the issue, we need widespread use of ignition interlocks, devices that prevent vehicles from starting if alcohol is detected for offenders and high-risk drivers who’ve had DUIs in the past. Educating the public on the dangers of drunk driving and promoting alternative transportation like how the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) uses testimonials from victims’ loved one and survivors to show the real-life consequences of drunk driving and practices like carpooling. These campaigns could highlight the distractions through awareness initiatives, especially targeting the younger drivers. The last but not least factor that could improve our roads being safer for everyone is reducing speeding through lower speed limits on streets. Setting reasonable speed limits, especially in urban and residential areas could lead to more emphasis on defensive driving.