The Trust Of Strangers

Every day, complete strangers trust me with their lives. 

Mom driving her children to school. Teenage boy crossing the street after practice. Family going back home from vacation. None of those people know me; but every time I get into my car, I know that they trust me to make smart decisions. The most astonishing thing about driving is that we do this automatically, every day. We trust hundreds of unknown drivers every day, trusting them not to be careless, and to take driving seriously. 

As a child, I used to think that freedom meant being able to drive my own car. I could hardly wait until I would get my license because this way, I would gain my independence. I could finally go wherever I wanted and do whatever I wanted. But when I started to learn how to drive, I understood that it was about something else. 

Driver education becomes vital in saving lives by educating future drivers how to make good choices before they experience any accidents on the road. Driver education involves educating drivers on traffic rules, defensive driving, and dangers. More importantly, driver education makes drivers realize that each decision they make does not only affect them, but also others around them. 

What I have realized is the fact that it is quite easy for one to get used to driving. Since driving is something many people undertake daily, they get used to it. Therefore, they are no longer cautious when making any decisions on the road. They check a text message, race due to lateness, or drive when tired, among other poor decisions that might affect their lives completely. 

While I do not have any experience with being injured in a car wreck, I often witness reckless driving. I have observed drivers looking away from the road to use cellphones while driving. I have seen people speed up and make changes to the lanes without turning on their indicators. Each time such things happen, I wonder how many people will get affected if there would be something going wrong. The driver's mistake is dangerous not only for him/her. It affects passengers, family members, pedestrians, and people driving near by.  

One particular situation showed me how dangerous reckless driving is and what can happen to us. While I was a passenger in a car, another driver drove very fast through the intersection right before the light would turn red. Of course, nothing bad happened but the situation could have turned much worse in just several seconds. In those couple of minutes, I understood the importance of safe driving and why we should stick to traffic regulations. 

Many ways exist to minimize driving deaths. For instance, there could be continued education classes at school focusing on practical situations. There could be public advocacy efforts geared toward educating people about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. People should also set an example at home as parents by ensuring they practice safe behaviors when driving. Technology could also play an essential part in the effort with safety tools like the hands-free device and Do Not Disturb While Driving option. 

But in my opinion, the biggest solution would be personal responsibility. It will always come down to whether a person chooses to be safe behind the wheel regardless of any class, legislation, or technological advancements. 

However, there are things I, as a potential driver, can do to make myself and everyone else more secure. I can put away my phone and refrain from getting distracted while driving, I can follow traffic laws such as speed limits, and use my seat belt at all times. Moreover, I can urge my friends to follow traffic rules and point out if someone is acting unsafely on the road. These may seem like minor measures, but as they say, sometimes the smallest steps lead to the most significant changes. 

One of the lessons that I have learned from driver education is never taking driving for granted. Everyone who gets into a car has family and friends who will love them to pieces even in a few years. Therefore, by being responsible while driving, we ensure that not only ourselves but also people we have never met and do not know will be able to live another day. 

Thus, I believe that driver education is crucial because it shows people the importance of their role in making streets safer for everyone around. 

Every day, strangers trust me with their lives. The least I can do is earn that trust by being the safest driver I can be.