Driving: Safety, Education, and Awareness

Getting your driving license is a moment of celebration; for many young adults, it is a way to mark their independence, as they jam one foot into the door of adulthood. For others, it is an essential skill due to the nature of their job, or to make life more convenient. Driving is a very common form of commute, however as the number of cars on the road increases, so does the rate of traffic accidents. In this essay I will explore the importance of good driver education, and recall my own experience with driving.

Here in the UK, you can be taught to drive by a qualified instructor, or by any family member/friend providing that they are over the age of 21 and have possessed a full driving license for over 3 years. Though it can be cheaper to go for the latter, with a proper driver education, you can reduce the risk of getting into an accident. For instance, with an instructor, you will be taught not only how to drive in residential and busy areas, but also on motorways and country roads (areas with more hazards) at a pace that suits you. You are also taught the correct procedures to take out in the chance of a fault. This more formal environment will help to prepare you better, so you feel more confident in the drivers seat.

Unfortunately, as prepared as one can be, you can still find yourself in a sorry situation on the road at the fault of another driver. In order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, first we must ensure that the tests that determine whether someone is legally capable of driving are of a high caliber. Just earlier this week, I took my driving theory test. I had been preparing to take this over the past month, and I am very pleased to say that I passed. In England, you must take a theory test- which tests your knowledge of the roads, whilst also how well you can percept hazards- and a practical test- which is to determine if you are able to drive safely on the roads. Only after passing these two grueling tests do you receive a driving license. Combined, the overall pass rate is less than 50%; this can help to reduce the number of incapable, reckless drivers who are enabled by the law.

Some may argue that making driving tests too difficult will put unnecessary stress on test-takers and increase prevalent anxiety around driving. However, the effects of reckless, inconsiderate driving are far more devastating; lives can be lost, families can be ruined, and children’s lives are put at risk. We must ensure that drivers are fully capable before allowing them to roam freely; with the right to drive comes the responsibility to drive safely.

I am lucky to say that I have not been involved in a car accident myself, but I can only imagine how traumatic experiencing one would be. Not only could there possibly be physical repercussions, but it would also take an enormous toll on one’s mental health, to the extent that going outside is a struggle in fear of being caught up in another accident. That being said, I would like to mention how I, as I child, was under the misconception that taxi drivers did not need to wear their seatbelts, due to the lack of them in every taxi I had sat in. This goes to show how important drivers education is, even to a young child. Teaching them how to be a responsible pedestrian can be a matter of life or death- knowing how to cross roads safely, how to put your seatbelt on, how to cycle safely on the road- all are crucial to a child’s safety.

Although I am yet to achieve my driving license, as I first need to pass my practical test, I will start my journey of becoming a safer driver today. Many of my friends are in the same boat as I am, and I will remind them to stay safe whilst on their driving lessons. As I volunteer with children, mostly those with special needs, I wish to teach them about being safe on the road by highlighting the different hazards they are likely to encounter and how to deal with them. Finally, I vow to speak up and challenge reckless driving if I see it, in attempts to increase awareness and the importance of safe driving to all drivers. Thank you for reading my essay, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.