Driver Education Initiative – In The Driver’s Seat by Kendra Mcdonald

Driver’s
education allows new drivers to learn about the rules and regulations
to be followed while driving in a safe environment in which these
aspiring drivers are not putting anyone’s lives in danger. Outside
of the drivers ed. classroom there are also scheduled drive times
in which the student drives with driving instructors that are capable
of answering the student’s questions, and teaching them to be safe
drivers. If not for these classes and supervised hands on experiences
then there would be more instances of deaths caused by motor
vehicles.

While
drivers ed. is a useful and vitally important resource, it does
not prevent all car accidents. One step that can be taken to reduce
the number of deaths as a result of irresponsible driving is to
implement incentives for safer driving. This would produce more
awareness about the driver’s actions and would lead to less
careless driving. Another step that could be taken would be
implementing a system that blocks the driver’s cellphone service
while the car is in gear. If a process like this were to be
implemented there would be fewer distractions for the person
operating the vehicle. A final step that can be implemented is a
system which works like the “Every Fifteen Minutes” program that
makes the deadly effects of car crashes real by staging car accidents
of community members to shatter the fallacy that some people are
immune to such tragedies.

Anyone
can get into a life altering car crash at any time. In a car crash
there is typically a person who is at fault and a person who is a
victim, this means that even safer drivers get into accidents.
Whenever I was about three (3) years old my mom, sister, and myself
were all involved in a serious car accident. My mom was practicing
safe driving techniques, but because of the other driver’s poor
choices, our car was totaled. That is one example about how a car
crash can happen to anyone, even if they are not their fault. I have
also been in cars with my friend’s parent who had been either
texting behind the wheel, under the influence of alcohol, or both.
During those rides I was increasingly worried that I would learn
first-hand how false those fallacies can be.

Personally,
a way that I can protect myself and others while driving is making
sure that my music is never distracting me from my main goal while
driving, getting from point A to point B safely. I can also keep
other distractions out of sight and reach. Something that everyone
can do is, if they are riding in a car with someone who is not
practicing safe driving, gently remind the driver about the risks of
their unsafe activities. If a licensed driver is riding with someone
who is either under the influence or even too tired to drive safely,
they always have the option to switch drivers.