The road rules: In the Driver’s Seat

THE ROAD RULES: In the Driver’s Seat.

My father has always thought that driving was very important but he also thinks that having proper drivers ed before going out on the road as a driver is more important which is surely why he told me at a very young age that ill start learning the fundamentals of road driving at the age of fifteen even when I am only eligible to drive at age eighteen.

At first, it was all so confusing to me why he made a big fuss about properly learning how to drive. I mean it’s just to drive a car on a road right? But it is definitely more than that. As I got older I began to notice the amount of hassle lack of proper drivers ed causes on Nigerian roads, I began to understand how important it is. In my country, Nigeria, at least 3,947 road crashes has been recorded and 1,758 deaths in the first quarter of 2020, reckless driving is the third leading cause of these crashes. I’d like to think that if these drivers were taught even the basic road signs, rules and regulations, a lot of these deaths could have been prevented because these road rules would not have been violated if they were known. According to my research, Most Nigerian drivers, weren’t taught proper drivers ed including those that went to driving school due to lack of equipment. Now we can see how important proper drivers ed is and how it is one of the major factors that will reduce the number of deaths on the road.

The number of road deaths can be reduced if a few important steps are taken. Firstly, driving schools should be well equipped and more efficient in teaching potential drivers. Their main aim should be to get educated drivers on the road for their safety and others too and governments and communities around should help in funding of driving schools by donations etc. as it is a major part of their community. Secondly, potential drivers should be enlightened about the importance of proper drivers ed, attending driving school and dangers of ignoring road rules.

Thirdly, before driving licenses are given, potential drivers should be properly tested to be sure they are road ready. Driving classes should be a compulsory requirement before issuance of licenses.

The issue of reckless driving needs to be solved through teamwork that is, we as individuals should all have a hand in it including myself by attending a driving school near me to better my driving skills, making extensive research on meanings of road signs and paying attention to them while driving. As someone who is turning 18 I’m excited to hit the road with good knowledge about its rules but sadly some don’t know about these rules and I would definitely make it my priority to always talk about these road rules when any topic of driving comes up between I and my peers because the change starts with me.