On a regular Wednesday night at 11pm, I slid into my car in a rush. I was on the way to see a friend, something so regular, so normal, I didn’t think twice. Within seconds, the most average night turned life-changing. Two seemingly minor, and inconsequential actions turned into weeks stuck on a couch with a concussion, and a totaled car. The simple action of buckling my seatbelt could’ve saved me weeks of pain. If I would’ve made a rule in advance never to look at my phone while driving, my car wouldn’t have been totaled. These two simple acts could’ve saved me thousands of dollars, as well as brain damage. Two simple promises that could’ve changed everything.
What is the importance of driver education in reducing deaths as a result of driving? Education for drivers is everything. The more educated people are, the more they realize that their seemingly “minor” and “inconsequential” actions on the road are actually what make all the difference. If I would’ve understood fully the implications of my actions in advance, I know I would’ve chosen differently. If I could’ve understood that the way I was driving was extremely irresponsible, I know that my actions wouldn’t have been the same. Education is everything. Knowledge is power, especially when people’s lives are on the line. My life, the lives of family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances.
What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving? As a part of the driver’s ed. course, as well as the process to receive your drivers license, I would want to include a promise, to yourself, and to the world around you, that every time you step foot in a car, you will buckle your seatbelt, you will never look at your phone while driving, you will never drive impaired, you will not drive drowsy, etc. I believe in the power of a promise. I believe in the power of education. If properly educated on the weight of each of these promises, I truly believe that more people would keep them.
Overall, I believe that there needs to be more of a focus on the individual promises you make to yourself that hold more weight than making sure you know which emergency light means what. I believe that the more technical education is important as well, but I believe that a higher focus on the impact of the promises we make to ourselves could make a huge difference on the safety of our roads.
What steps can I take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road? I have created a system for every time I step into a vehicle where I immediately buckle my seatbelt, then place my phone on the passenger seat. I will not allow myself to drive until these two steps are taken to ensure the safety of myself and those around me. I will help others around me to become safer on the road by sharing my story, by pushing those around me to be better. Whenever I am in the car with friends or family I will ensure that every person is buckled, and the driver is not looking at their phone. If those around us held us to a higher standard when in the vehicle, I believe that we could create a new, and safer culture of driving.
My accident affected my outlook on driving as a whole. My eyes were opened to the danger and responsibility of getting behind the wheel. I don’t believe that driving is something to be afraid of, but I do believe that it is something that we need to fully understand the weight and responsibility of. With a higher, and better education focusing on the importance of every small promise we make to ourselves and those around us when we get on the roads, I truly believe that we could see a noticeable difference on the roads. After a more extensive education, and with a tangible promise we have to make as a part of the driver’s ed. course as well as the drivers test, I believe people would hold themselves to a higher standard.
As I mentioned before, I believe in the power of a promise. I believe in the power of education and knowledge. With the combination of these things, a difference could be seen on our roads. On our families. On our friends. This epidemic could be stopped. This crisis averted. People’s lives could be saved.