What Drivers Forget After Drivers Ed

A driver’s licence means independence. Most of all it means responsibility. Becoming a driver means being responsible for the lives of passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, as well as other drivers. In addition, drivers have to focus on multiple things at once. They have to shift their vision and communicate with other drivers. Many drivers are overconfident in their abilities and add texting, eating, and grooming to the tasks they juggle behind the wheel. These unnecessary “tasks” can result in accidents and/or death. Accidents and deaths can be avoided if drivers did not overlook the elements that greatly contribute to road safety.

Drivers ed plays a big role in decreasing driving-related deaths– at least with new drivers. New drivers are cautious once they learn about all the risks of driving. The problem is presumptuous experienced drivers. Not only do these drivers multitask but, by doing so they miss what is happening around their vehicle. It causes them to miss signs, changing lights, pedestrians. Drivers ed teaches new drivers to anticipate the worse to help them avoid dangerous situations. It also teaches how driving related deaths can affect more than the driver and the victim(s), it shows how accidents scar people for life. Although inexperienced drivers are cautious, what can be done about overconfident drivers? How can we prevent the deaths that they cause?

Well, drivers can follow certain steps to protect those inside of the vehicle and around it. Drivers should always ensure that every passenger is wearing their seatbelt, passengers who go without them are more likely to get thrown from vehicles. If drivers have consumed alcohol or drugs they should never get behind the wheel. Phones should be on silent or turned off completely. Besides drivers, other road users can take precautions. Pedestrians should remain off their phones and should stay alert while walking. If it is night time pedestrians and bikers should wear bright, reflective clothing. Bikes should also have reflectors. Other simple steps can help like staying out of trucks’ “no zones”, motorcyclists not squeezing in between cars, and keeping music low.

I personally have been in a car accident. When I was about nine my father was turning into a shopping center and a car on the main road was speeding and crashed into the left side of the vehicle. Luckily no one was injured but their unnecessary speeding could’ve ended far worse.

I know there is so much I can do to become a better driver and keep others safe. I can do this by:

• Doing vehicle inspections/pre-entry checks

• Always wear a seatbelt

• Always use turn signals when maneuvering

• Maintain a safe driving distance

• Staying calm

As a new driver I don’t just want to become a good driver, I want to stay that way no matter how much experience I gain. No matter the size of a vehicle or the quality of the person behind the wheel, every driver should be cautious and responsible for all the road users that surround them.