Why Be Cut Short?

Driver education is incredibly vital in reducing the deaths that result from motor vehicle accidents, as it instills in drivers the responsibility, decision making, and skills needed to drive a car safely. Daily driving is one of the riskiest things people do every day and yet drivers rarely stop to acknowledge the risks present. Safe driver education does not only teach a person how to turn a steering wheel and follow signs, but it teaches skills such as decision making, hazard identification, defensive driving, and alertness. Driver education can ultimately save lives as it allows drivers to acknowledge the danger and prepare to deal with it properly.

I have experienced firsthand the importance of safe driving, during the first year I had my license. I was involved in a car crash that luckily did not lead to any serious injuries, but it could have. The moment after my car hit another, I realized how easily an every-day occurrence could become a life altering event. The full reality hit me and I knew right then and there that driving is not something to be taken lightly. The incident forced me to reflect on my own actions and the actions of others on the road. I was surprised how a momentary lapse in judgment, not my own, resulted in a car crash that could have had deadly consequences.

The only permanent result of my car accident was the emotional trauma that I felt for weeks afterward. I was too afraid to get behind the wheel for quite a while and I became much more conscious and mindful of my surroundings and other drivers. I started to notice how widespread and normalized careless driving, speeding, and distraction was. I have noticed numerous times throughout my life how both friends and family members will risk an accident in order to use their phone in the car, not care when they drive too fast, and will still text while driving, but they fail to understand how these actions could ultimately kill someone.

Instances such as the one that I encountered are why driver education is crucial. Most accidents that occur today are completely preventable when drivers make responsible decisions that result in safe driving. Education about driving has a duty to teach people to notice and avoid potential hazards before they are able to turn into an actual emergency and drivers will learn patience, and the importance of awareness. Moreover, this will allow young drivers to see driving as not only a freedom, but a privilege. When drivers have quality driver education, they are significantly more likely to engage in behavior that protects everyone on the road.

There are several steps that can be taken in order to alleviate the deaths that are caused by car accidents. Perhaps one of the most important ones is to increase and provide access to quality driver education. This type of driver education will provide people with skills of defensive driving, prevention of driver distraction, and understanding of why drunk and drugged driving are deadly. While it is necessary to establish good habits before the young can begin driving alone, schools and communities can also offer safety workshops on driving at later times in a person’s life.

One of the other reasons for accidents on the road today is the overwhelming use of mobile phones and other technology while driving. Drivers need to learn the responsibility that comes with owning a car, and not use cell phones before or while driving. Hands-free calling and texts should also not be used at all times unless necessary and attention should be focused on the road and on how to drive safe. Public awareness campaigns should be put in place to promote safe driving and let people know of the consequences that come from not paying attention to the road.

Another crucial factor in preventing driving accidents is enforcement. Traffic laws such as speed limits, seatbelt use, and regulations against drunk or drugged driving were all established in order to protect people from dangerous drivers on the road. If people knew that the consequences of speeding, driving without a seatbelt, and impaired driving will cause serious harm then they would refrain from participating in these behaviors. Safer road construction and designs, lighting, and signs could be implemented in the future as well.

Since being in the accident, I know that my driving responsibilities are my own and since that point I have done all that I can in order to drive safe and responsibly. I always wear my seatbelt while in a moving vehicle, I never use my cell phone in the car and I try to be constantly aware of other drivers that are near me. I am now realizing more than ever that a safe driver doesn't only mean following the laws, but it entails focus and attentiveness in managing emotions in such a stressful situation, not taking unnecessary risks, and the constant realization that every decision behind the wheel has an effect on other drivers.

I have realized that there are numerous ways in which I can assist other people in becoming safer drivers. The first way that I can do so is by leading as an example to other young drivers. Other young people look at drivers who have licenses as individuals to look up to. I can make the road a safer place to drive and also be a positive example by staying focused while I am driving and by not engaging in risky behaviors that are harmful. When people engage in risky behavior while driving it is necessary that an intervention takes place rather than standing by and doing nothing.

Overall, even though it was one of the most traumatic events in my life, I am thankful to have gone through the experience of being in a car crash. It made me realize the importance of driver education, driving safely, and the risks that are involved when driving. Education regarding driving saves many lives, especially with the help of traffic laws, public awareness, and personal accountability to drive safe for others on the road.