Driving Education in a Lifetime

Driver education is extremely important in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. But what is arguably more important is keeping up with that education throughout one’s lifetime. A common feeling that drivers have is that over time, they can care less about how they drive because they have so much experience that the skills they learned when they first started driving don’t matter as much. This is something that needs to change, people need to be keeping up with new driving laws and new skills to improve their driving constantly. This constant education will help refresh our brains and will improve our roads and make them safer.

There are so many steps that one could take to reduce the number of deaths on the roads, One of these is that we need to have no distractions while we are driving, cell phones, animals, other people, and music are all very common distractions that if taken away, can reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Cellphones can be put on “do not disturb” and animals can be either kept at home or in a cage if they need to be taken to the vet or some other place where they must ride in a car. Music can also be kept at a low volume and can be set to play certain songs before you start driving. Other people are harder to control but still are a distraction that needs to be minimized. I believe that this falls on the passenger themselves, many of them know how to drive and know the consequences that come with being distracted. So it is up to them as an individual or as a group to not distract the driver and talk at a low volume. Doing this would tremendously help with the number of deaths related to driving.

Another step that can be taken to help reduce the number of deaths is similar to my answer to the first question but includes more specifics. Obeying traffic laws is a huge part of driving, especially when you are a student driver. But these rules are constantly changing and new ones are being made, this is why people need to keep up with the laws throughout their lifetime. This is not a difficult thing to do, it could be as simple as signing up for a trusted newsletter that will keep you up to date on the new changes to laws or new laws that are being made. Knowing and obeying these laws will help keep the roads safer. Basic driving skills are another piece of driving that can constantly change and possibly get worse if the person allows it. This is why people need to keep up with their driving skills, and I don’t mean taking the driving test every year. Simply remembering the same skills that you were taught every time you drive, and knowing the traffic laws will also help improve this. Knowing when both of these things change, how they change, and remembering how they changed are all things that will help improve the roads and reduce the number of deaths related to driving.

While I have never been in a car accident, I have had several friends and family members get into car accidents and I have also seen them drive irresponsibly. The main time that I remember was when my parents and I were at a friend’s house for a party and they were drinking. I was too young to know how dangerous this was so I just played with my friends and didn’t think anything of it. After the party was over, they drove home with me in the car and we made it home safe and sound. As I got older and thought back to that moment, I realized just how dangerous it was. The next time my parents tried to do the same thing, I voiced my concern and told them that they shouldn’t be driving. They listened to me and we stayed at the person’s house for the night, ever since then, they have always either had a plan for one of them not to drink or for us to stay at the house we would be going to. I have always been a shy person, so I am glad that I voiced my concern and stopped them from drinking and driving before something bad happened.

One step that I can take to become a better driver is to remember the most common distractions and keep them out of my reach. I am one to listen to my music very loud and while I like to think it doesn’t distract me, I notice some moments where I am listening to the music more than I am to my surroundings and the road. Keeping these distractions out of my reach will also help others because I am setting an example of what a good driver looks like. Having this look will help my friends, parents, and even my sister, she is younger than me and I want to set a good example for her to follow when she starts driving because she looks up to me.

In conclusion, driving is something that needs to be taken very seriously because it is a life-or-death situation. So knowing all the ways that you can make the roads safer is a very important part of learning how to drive every time you drive throughout your life.