Personal Safety is Road Safety

Safe driving is important, but the effects of unsafe driving are often neglected. Too many people get seriously injured or killed as a result of unsafe driving habits which can be remedied. Driver’s education is one aspect of learning to drive which should be given more attention. Several features of driver’s education can create a positive impact on the safety of the road: risks and responsibilities of driving, what to do in emergencies, when not to drive, and spatial awareness.

One of the most important things driver’s education teaches is safety on the road. A strong education in this can reduce the number of driving related deaths that occur. People, especially teenagers, need to be aware of how to be safe, and they need to understand why safety is so important. New drivers often drive recklessly because they think it is cool; however, it is not cool to endanger lives. When driving, an individual driver has the responsibility to keep every other driver safe. Too many people take this responsibility lightly. Proper driver’s education teaches students the risks and responsibilities of operating a vehicle. When drivers are fully aware of the true risk they pose to themselves and others, it is likely they will drive much safer. As a result of a full education on safety, there will be fewer deaths on the road.

In addition to keeping other drivers safe, people need to be aware of how to protect themselves in the case of something unexpected. Many people do not know exactly what to do in the case of a flat tire, fender bender, engine failure, or other danger. By reacting inappropriately, someone can make this situation worse and even deadly. Driver’s education often teaches what to do in these events to prioritize personal safety over a damaged car, and this can further reduce the number of driving related deaths.

My little sister possibly saved her own life by following these steps. The driver’s education she took repeatedly taught exactly what to do in different emergencies. She got into an accident and could have lost her life had she not handled the situation properly. Her tire was immediately and seriously impacted after the accident, and she knew to firmly grip the wheel and pull into a shoulder instead of braking to a stop. Once she made it to safety, she was grateful that her driver’s education kept her safe, and I was, too. In addition to driver’s education protecting her after the impact, our father’s advice protected her before. He taught us to pay close attention to any dangers on the road and to trust our instincts. She was attuned to her environment so that she was preemptively able to avoid impact as much as possible so she could protect herself. People should learn the importance of being very aware of surroundings when driving and use this practice every time they drive.

Distracted, drowsy, and drunk driving are some of the biggest killers on the road. The best way each individual driver can reduce the number of deaths on the road is by not driving if they are not safe to drive. While this is an ideal solution, some people will nevertheless drive dangerously. This means every driver needs to be careful of dangers that other drivers may present. There are many ways to increase safety while driving, but a few easy cautions include following other cars at a safe distance, looking both ways before entering an intersection, checking blind spots, and following the speed limit. A more complex, advanced safety measure that needs to be understood is the ability to gain a high intonation into the behavior of other drivers. This means understanding when and why another driver may be driving poorly or unpredictably and how to respond. This skill takes time and practice to develop, but a strong intuition is key in being a safe driver. By being aware of the people that share the road, people can increase their own safety and the safety of the roads.

While I am working on growing my senses with other drivers, I have developed other strong safety habits: driving the speed limit, keeping a safe following distance, and being predictable. Although these are easy habits to develop, I frequently see people ignoring them. This is why if I am ever in the car with someone driving dangerously, I try to gently offer feedback on dangers I notice in their driving. Although many people find “backseat driving” annoying, I have found that persistent encouragement helps build safe habits. The more safe drivers we have on the road, and the fewer dangerous drivers, the safer the roads will be.

There will always be some dangerous drivers on the road, but by learning personal safety, we can reduce those numbers. Good habits and focus while driving save lives, so it is important for each of us to learn this. These are easy to learn through valuable driver’s education and driving practice. After all, the safer each driver is, the safer the roads will be.