Have you ever seen a bad car accident and thought to yourself, “If I had only been at this spot just a few minutes earlier that could have been me,” or you see an accident involving a car that looks like somebody’s you know, so you call them to ensure they are safe? This sadly is a universal experience for many drivers. According to studies, “more than two-thirds of drivers have been in an accident at least once.” This is a scary fact that most parents may think of when their 16-year-old begins driving. The best way to combat this statistic would be proper driver education. Knowing how to properly drive through driving lessons and other formats of drivers' education helps to keep everyone safe on the road.
Driving lessons can reduce the number of accident-related deaths for teens and adults. Many accidents occur due to poor driving or a person being unfamiliar with the rules of the road. One example of this would be my own personal experience with driving. Last month I was in a car accident due to an uninformed driver who eventually fled the scene. The driver did not know which vehicle had the right of way and they also did not know to immediately pull over after the accident. Instead, the driver continued to drive, causing damage to both vehicles and leaving my car to suffer the consequences. Luckily, there were no deaths or serious injuries, but I do know that if the car I was driving had been any smaller, the results could have been disastrous. I believe if this driver had been given proper driver education and understood the rules of the road, this accident could have been prevented.
Some ideas for further driver education could be to attend more required prerequisite classes before new drivers obtain their license or an annual “knowledge check” type test issued by the DMV needed to be passed by drivers each year before they reach 25 could be practical options to ensure newer drivers are retaining the information they were given when they received their license. Being sure that drivers both new and old have a proper understanding of driving is crucial to keeping everyone safe.
An additional way to combat deaths related to driving would be to enforce stricter penalties for dangerous driving behaviors. These include penalties for violations such as speeding, drunk driving, and distracted driving. In Kentucky, people can receive multiple DUI’s and still have the ability to drive on public roads. I believe this is not the way it should be. I am all for rehabilitation after an incident such as a DUI, however repeat offenders should not be able to have their license. Additionally, paying a measly 50 or so dollars for a severe speeding ticket when the careless speeding itself could have caused injury or death to another person is something I do not agree with. Incidents like this should result in added drivers' education and should remain on the persons record for an extended period to prevent becoming a repeat offender. Car insurance companies like Allstate and State-Farm already grant bonuses to customers for repeated “safe driving.” This is something that I can see becoming a very good way for companies to ensure the roads are safe. I could also see this model being adopted by the government if the driving in a city is not improving. Things such as discounts on car registration or a small monthly check granted by the government would be an easy way to promote safer driving.
A few steps that I can take to become a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road are firstly to obey all traffic laws and speed limits. They are in place in order to keep everyone safe. Additionally, I will ensure to keep a safe driving distance behind the person in front of me, as well as constantly check my surroundings. I will constantly reinforce safe driving habits to my friends and encourage others to practice these habits by setting a good example with my driving and reminding them the importance of it. By doing these things, I will be a contribute to a safer driving environment for everyone around me. However, creating a safe driving environment is a community effort, and each person needs to do their own role to keep it that way.
In conclusion, it is important for people to take the adequate precautions when driving. Ensuring the obedience of traffic laws and speed limits, while also maintaining proper driving behavior will help reduce the number of injury or deaths related to driving. With added drivers' education, and stricter penalties for driving-related incidents, these factors will improve. From my personal experience, I know that it is especially important to stay focused on the road around you when traveling. You can not control other people; however, you can control your own actions. If each person follows this rule, I can see a much safer driving environment for all people.