Driving Education & Psychology

Drivers ed plays a big role in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving because without education, people will drive according to the way that is acceptable in their environment. Although, in the UK, you have to pass both a theoretical and practical driving test before achieving a driver’s license, you can make up to 15 minor driving faults (this is not potentially dangerous, but if you keep making the same fault, it could become a serious fault) with no major faults and still pass the practical portion of the test. This could be a contributing factor to the number of deaths as a result of driving because the slightest of mistakes can end in a fatal road accident.

My first suggestion would be to enforce simple traffic rules such as the use of a seatbelt for those travelling by car, truck or lorries (suitable child seats for children), helmets for motorcyclists and bicyclists, obeying speed limits, patience levels in traffic and driving without distractions such as alcohol/narcotic consumption, texting and many more. From studying psychology in secondary school, I would then suggest the use of social influence to reduce the number of deaths related to driving because most social influence research finds that people are more likely to conform to what the majority believe or do. For example, Goldstein found that guests at a hotel were 26% more likely to reuse their towels when they learned that the majority of their fellow guests did the same. In the context of driving, I believe if drivers are told that the majority of their peers drive safely then we will see a reduction in the number of deaths related to driving.

When I was 8, I was in a car accident with my mum and dad. I was on the way to an acting school and my dad was on the way to football coaching. We were stopped at a traffic light and there were two lanes, left to enter a retail park and straight, the lane we were in. There was no right turn at all but when the light switched to green the driver in the left lane automatically turned right causing a collision between us. My mum and I were on the passenger side (left) of the car and the impact caused us both to have nose bleeds. I did not have a phone to call the emergency services, so I made my way to the supermarket in the retail park to get help. This was a traumatic experience for me, especially as a child, because my mum sustained a knee injury from this accident while I had cheek bruising. The worst part of this incident was that although we were not in the wrong, we had to take responsibility for the actions of a reckless and careless driver who clearly was not paying attention to the road signs. As a result of this, I try to make sure those I am in a car with adhere to the road traffic laws and are safe drivers with or without me there.

The first step to helping others become safer on the road is to be safe on the road myself. I think if people are safe in the car with me then they will want to return that comfort and safety whenever I am with them. In order to help others that are not necessarily within my reach, I can raise awareness of organisations that help to educate drivers whilst doing the same myself on various social media platforms, particularly, but not limited to, in Road Safety Weeks and Safe Driving Day (started by President Eisenhower).