Brendon Hagler- In The Driver’s Seat

When driving, it is very important to have no distractions when driving and to focus on driving. Many deaths on the road today are caused by distracted driving. Most of these accidents could have been avoided because of what the driver at fault was doing. There are multiple things a driver can do to be safe.

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving? It is very important for beginning drivers and first time drivers to receive driver’s education because it teaches drivers the rules of the road, helps them know how to operate their vehicle and understand consequences of actions especially driving while distracted. These factors will help reduce accidents which also will reduce the number of fatalities. When an educated driver is behind the wheel, he/she will know how to react in a dangerous situation and will be able to make better decisions while driving to avoid an accident. It is my belief that every driver should be required to take a drivers education course that teaches practical knowledge, hands-on experience in a vehicle as well as defensive driving before receiving a driver’s license.

Personally I have never been in an accident but I have family who have been in serious accidents before. My uncle was gravely injured in a motorcycle accident with a car. The other driver was distracted while driving and pulled out in front of my uncle, who was on a motorcycle and had the right-of-way. He hit the car head on, flew through the car’s back window and received life threatening injuries. He was in the hospital for months and had several operations. He missed work for a year due to the accident and the other driver only received a ticket for a moving violation. We are lucky my uncle is still alive.

My family has taken steps to help prepare me to be a safe driver. I completed a driver’s education class and have participated in two defensive driving courses. The courses taught me what it feels like to drive while distracted in a vehicle and how to react to avoid being distracted. It also taught me how to react to road hazards. I already am a safe driver. I don’t speed or talk on the phone while driving. I limit the number of friends in my car. I use hands-free map programs such as Waze to help me keep my eyes on the road when I drive to new places. I always take extra precautions to ensure that I am avoiding accidents.

Overall there are many ways to avoid causing fatal accidents. If all drivers took education courses, kept safe distances, did not speed and did not drive distracted then fewer then there would be fewer fatalities on the road.