2024 Drivers Ed Essay Contest

In The Driver’s Seat

Driving is a daily activities which come with serious implications that cannot be overlooked. In America, an average of 34,000 people die each year as a result of driving related incidents. Statistical data published by  NHTSA, Wikipedia shown that more people have died in one year on road driving than the total number of American soldiers who have died from Afghanistan and Iraq war between 2001-2021.

One crucial implications of being a responsible driver is to be responsible for your safety as well as the safety of others. It is important to always remember when driving that the lives of the passengers are entrust in your hands the moment they get behind the wheel of your car and so recklessness driving can consequently leads to injuries, disabilities and even death.

In addition, there are also economic and emotional implications for driving related incidents. The emotional implication are often combined with grief and suffering especially when the incident involves lose of love one.While the economic implication can cause loss of income, medical expenses and so on due to injuries resulting from the incidents.

However, there are ways to contribute in reducing number of road accident and other related issues as a responsible driver to ensure your safety and that of the lives of others behind your wheels. These include enrolling for driver education to enhance and promote responsible driving behaviors, sticking to traffic laws, investing on vehicle infrastructures and safety features and as well as developing culture of empathy and mindfulness while driving on the road.

Drivers ed program is crucial in order to reduce the number of deaths that occurs during driving. A publication argued that Driver Education can lower the rates of traffic fatalities among road users.The research also argued that there will be thirty per cent drop in fatal road accident among teenage drivers of age 16years, if striker graduation driver licensing laws are made mandatory for driver education for road users or drivers. Driver education are might to equip individuals with all the necessary driving skills and knowledge of road safety. It will be crucial to consider driver education for the following reasons.

Skill Development: Driver education play crucial in educating the road users about the necessary driving skills which include defensive driving techniques skills, hazard perception and important emergency maneuver skills as ways of reducing road accident and unforeseen events on the road.

Understanding Laws and Regulations: Another important benefit of driver education will be to teach individual with more understanding of traffic laws, regulation and road signs. Believe me many drivers have no or little knowledge of road signs, laws and regulations. Driver education will be one better opportunity of gaining good comprehensive understanding road laws and regulations and a well ways of promoting them reducing road crashes and collisions among users.

Promoting Responsible Behavior: Driver education can enhance building the right behaviors among road user such as maintaining minimum safe following distances and learning to respect other road users like pedestrians and cyclists.

Lastly, driver education program can create individual awareness of the potential risks and dangers in driving while speeding, distracting driving and driving under influences.

Driver education is important for every road users as it will build necessary skills and create awareness,s promote proper adhering to the necessary road safety measures in order to reduce number of death as a result of driving.

Moreover, one of brothers had experienced car accident that resulted in deforming one of his limb, one of my friend loss his life to car accident. I have also witnessed car accidents on several occasions while travelling. I understood the tragedies, the emotional and financial trauma involve from my own brother experience. Car accident incident is not stranger to me but something I will like to do to reduce car accident is to advocate for the need to proper orientation road users especially the teens who start driving without proper acquiring driving skills through driver education.

I think for me the best steps to follow in becoming a better responsible driver is to properly enroll in driver education program from accredited driving schools. Because enrolling driver education program will be the first step to take in preparation of becoming better responsible driver. From the knowledge acquired in driver education one can learn the proper and step by step guidelines which include the following;

Adhering to Traffic Laws: Following traffic laws such as speed limits, traffic signals, and road signs while safe driving can be learn from driver education. It is crucial for me to learn and start adhere to proper road safety laws not just for safety but for the safety of others.

Avoiding Distractions: It is good for me to start avoiding the habits of texting, talking on the phone, or adjusting the radio while driving to remain focus on the road.

Maintaining Vehicle: I have to keep personal habit of car regular maintenance such as a regular check on brakes, tires, and lights for safe driving. Performing regular car maintenance can less chances of experiencing mechanical failures on road driving which can cause serious accident.

Practicing Defensive Driving: It is crucial to be prepared for the unforeseen events like awareness of blind spots and cautious at intersections and maintaining safe following distance.

However, it is also important to help others becoming safer on the road by;

Setting a Good Example: In practicing safe driving habits, I will be leading by example of being a responsible driver as road user to others to follow and such can influence other road users in becoming responsible.

Educating Others: From the knowledge of driver education, I could share the ideas about safe driving practices with friends, family, and colleagues through social media, conversation and volunteer services program in creating awareness on the importance of road safety.

Intervening Responsibly: while I try practicing good driving behavior, I could encourage other road user to practice the same and report any form irresponsible driving or road users to the appropriate authorities such as reporting all forms of reckless behavior while driving to the appropriate authorities or calmly addressing the issue with the driver if safe to intervene.

Supporting Safer Infrastructure: I could Advocate for the role of supporting road infrastructure which include improved signage, road markings, and traffic calming measures.