For your life and for their life

For your life and for their life

In Germany, where I come from, police have recorded 2,667,863 traffic accidents in 2019, with 3045 resulting deaths and almost 400,000 people injured. While the government takes measures against car accidents and reckless driving, many people tend to forget the importance of their own actions. It is therefore crucial to speak up, to listen and to change your behavior as well as others – and that all starts at driving school.

Drivers ed lays the foundation of ones driving habit. It not only teaches prospective drivers about laws, rules and technicalities of being behind the wheel and thus already establishing a layer of safety comprehension, but it makes students aware of reckless behavior – the leading cause of accidents.

You would not give somebody a gun without safety instructions and shooting lessons first. Nobody can keep or handle a weapon that is, like a car, capable of hurting and possibly killing others and yourself without a proper assessment beforehand.

So why think about driving and drivers ed differently? Being in the driver´s seat is a big responsibility.

I am lucky that my friends and family are safe and trustful drivers and that I never experienced an accident – but I had a few close calls with overconfident drivers, who made me risk my own safety to prevent serious damage. Many people need a reminder of just how important good behavior on the road is and it is of upmost importance to speak out against reckless driving. It is your good right to make people aware of their driving habit, especially if you sit in the car with them. But that also applies to you: listen to people, listen to road signs, listen to the police and other authorities. Know when it is safe to take initiative on the road, know when it is better to hold back – you don´t have to prove anything.

Governments should install more obstacles that hinder people from acting out and using these openings to drive unsafely. German politicians, for example, are discussing a speed limit for the Autobahn, the freeway that is seen as a glorious symbol of freedom. But too many drivers have been tempted into driving faster than necessary and nowadays, hearing the news of another accident on the road is normal. Yes, driving is freeing and it is a sign of freedom to be able to drive anywhere you want to but that is not an invitation to abuse that right and be a danger to yourself and others.

While drivers ed is the most important installment of ones path as a driver, everyone needs to be reminded of the responsibility you have. Traffic related deaths that are caused by recklessness won´t stop by putting up more signs that tell you to be careful; it will stop by changing your view of your role as a driver.