Modern Technology Meets Personal Experience

Courtney Merwin

Drivers ed Initiative Scholarship

July 2020

Modern Technology Meets Personal Experience

The upmost importance of drivers ed is teaching individuals to realize when and what type of mindset they need to have when sitting behind the wheel of a vehicle. The attitude and mentality of drivers, especially in the younger/teenage demographics, is not emphasized enough when discussing how to reduce accident-related deaths. In addition to focusing on the laws and rules of driving, which are immensely important to driving, there should be extra steps and lessons in the psychological aspect of driving. It is about awareness in all aspects of driving including the individual. The solutions to reducing the number of deaths related to driving is a harder question to answer. Virtual reality may be the next best tool in teaching this type of lesson. By using virtual reality technology to train drivers, especially beginners, they can immerse themselves in a situation like that of an accident and help them realize that a great amount of caution is needed when out on the road. We try to think about putting ourselves in that position but unfortunately, you do not know how that kind of experience feels until you go through it personally. If we experience that kind of scenario before obtaining licensure, it may change the way people drive in the future and how the future generations of drivers are taught. This tactic is not meant to instill fear into drivers but train them to realize that if they are not careful, this can happen and learn that accidents are preventable. In November of 2019, I was unexpectedly involved in a car accident that resulted in my vehicle being totaled. That night was the most terrifying and traumatic event I’ve personally experienced. Looking back on that memory made me realize that I had an altered mindset. I was not fully aware of my surroundings and unfortunately, this seems like it is happening to most drivers. It is all about the perspective we are in when sitting in the driver’s seat. As a result of my car accident, I learned the key to driving is maintaining a full awareness of all my surroundings. Driving requires the upmost and undivided attention for any amount of time spent in the vehicle. While my car accident is not something I wanted to remember, I can take that experience and share it with others to help them realize that driving is serious business and encourage them to be precarious about their actions on the road. By practicing patience and always remaining focused, not only I, but all drivers can be safer while out on the road.