The Importance of Driving Education

When I was 8 years old, my nana took me to the store with her. There was this one man who spoke to me and offered to buy me a bag of chips. From that point on, every time I saw him at the store I gave him a high five and we talked for a little. However one day all of this changed. My nana told me that my new friend had passed away in a brutal car accident. From what I can recall, he was in the passenger seat and the accident was caused because of a drunk driver. If the driver of the other vehicle was more responsible and had someone else drive for them, I would like to think that I would still have my friend to this day.

The reason why I lost my friend that day is obviously because the other driver did not have the proper driver education. Having the proper driver education can not only keep you safe, but keep the other drivers around you safe as well. Driver education teaches you how to drive safely, make good decisions on the road, and follow the laws regarding driving. This is a key factor to help reduce car fatalities. You can also learn defensive skills to keep you safe like the use of seatbelts, safe following distances, and ignoring distractions like alcohol or the use of a cellphone. Driver education also helps you develop important and responsible habits that can also help reduce accidents and reckless behavior.  Consumption of this information can help drivers make better decisions on the road and help keep everyone on the road safe.

Some of the steps that can be taken to help reduce the number of deaths regarding driving is to avoid impaired driving. The definition of impaired driving is to “operate a motor vehicle while your physical or mental abilities are compromised.” This means anything that distracts you and diverts your attention away from the road. Most people see impaired driving and assume it’s alcohol or drugs. However that is not the case. Using your cell phone while driving delays your reaction time, vision, and cognitive focus in ways that are just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. Another step is following the speed limit. Speeding can increase the risk of an accident happening because you can lose less control of the vehicle the faster you are traveling. Seat belts can also help reduce the number of deaths. In “Seat Belt Statistics” by The Zebra, they listed a statistic stating “wearing a seat belt can prevent nearly 50% of all vehicle deaths. People who do not wear seat belts and are ejected during a fatal car crash have a 75% chance of dying from their critical injuries.” Promoting safe driving habits like keeping your cool while driving, being alert at all times so you can react to anything at the quickest of your abilities, and driving carefully in bad weather are all safe habits to reduce fatal car accidents. There are many more steps that drivers can take to help reduce the number of deaths, however I believe these are the most important steps to help us achieve this goal.

To become a better and safer driver on the road, I can follow all the traffic laws like the speed limit so no one has to worry about me losing control, potentially crashing into them and causing an accident. I can also avoid distractions like texting and driving. Whomever I could be texting can wait until I have reached my destination. I will also be alert of my surroundings and use my defensive driving skills which include keeping a safe distance between my vehicle and the other vehicles around me, staying alert and making sure I am in my lane and not drifting into others. The last step I can take into being a safe driver is to have my emotions under control. I should not drive while I am angry/emotional because any minor inconvenience could possibly cause me to do something behind the wheel that I would regret later in the future.

Now, some steps that I can take to help my peers around me become better and safer drivers on the road is to encourage them to drive responsibly. My Nana has always told me, “You’re not just driving for yourself. Sometimes you have to drive for those around you.”  If one of my friends is speeding, I will tell them to slow down so as not to risk our lives nor those around us. There is no need to rush and increase our risk of getting into an accident just so we can reach our destination 5 minutes sooner. Also remind them to keep their eyes on the road and stay alert at all times. If I set a good example of how to drive safely and responsibly, that can have a positive influence on others around me and will help create a safe environment for everyone else. In conclusion, driver education is very important and necessary.