When it comes to reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving, driver education plays a crucial role. If one is not aware of the rules and regulations of being on the road, not only does the driver put themselves at risk but also many others who are driving as well. Driving is arguably one of the most essential skills required in today’s society. That being said, it is also one of the skills that has a life or death factor if not learned well. This is where driver education comes into play. It is important for all new drivers to have a good understanding of the rules and regulations before driving on the road and driver education is designed to do just that. For example, if a person ignores a stop sign and drives through, that one small decision puts everyone including the driver at risk of a car crash or even multiple car crashes. Another example would be not knowing how to drive into a roundabout and how to determine your turn to enter at the right time. Failure to do so may also result in an accident. The ability to navigate emergency situations and safety procedures also depends entirely on whether the person has had a good driver education or not so essentially, a driver education is not just about learning about traffic rules but actively avoiding the risk of accidents and death.

Some steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are not driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, making sure you’re driving under the speed limit, looking out for and following all signs and traffic signals, making sure you go through driver education to understand the ins and outs of driving, making sure your vehicle has the right tires and being aware of any mechanical issues etc. These are just some of the basics that people need to follow in order to prevent deaths related to driving. These steps are self explanatory and their very purpose is to ensure one’s safety on the road.

I have had an experience of being in a car accident not too long ago. Earlier this year, my family and I were headed to the mountains for a weekend getaway. We had hired a taxi driver and were set to leave in the morning around 7 am. We packed up and started our journey on time. The driver seemed to be perfectly fine and we didn’t think we would be getting into an accident in a few moments. As we started driving towards the mountain, the driver asked to take a break to get some coffee which was a bit strange since we had just started our journey. After that coffee break we started noticing that the driver was swerving in and out of our lane here and there and it wasn’t too extreme so we didn’t say anything. About ten minutes later our driver swerved into the opposite side of the road and a car hit us almost head on. Our taxi was ruined but thankfully, none of my family members were hurt. After confronting our driver we were able to determine that he had been under the influence of some sort of a drug which explained the stopping for coffee and swerving. It was a traumatic experience and it really showed me how important it is to be a safe driver and what a person’s decision as the driver can risk everyone else’s life. Apart from this experience I’ve had multiple family friends go through brutal accidents. One of our friends ended up breaking their leg and they had to be on a hospital bed for months on end after the accident. What I learned from that was that it only takes a few split seconds of making a wrong decision to determine what your life is going to be like for the next few months/years or whether you will even have a life to live.

The steps I can personally take to become a safer driver is to do the things I have learned through driver education. I would also propose the idea of being a selfless driver rather than a selfish one because if everyone cares a bit more about others driving on the road, that alone can reduce accidents and deaths related to driving dramatically. If people consistently follow the rules and regulations it will become second nature to them and it won’t feel like a chore but rather a habit which directly saves lives. Another step that I can take to help others become safer on the road is to demonstrate the importance of a quality driver education. We have the resources to learn and understand how things work, especially when it comes to driving. We ought to simply apply what we learn with a sense of responsibility.