Name: Yassin Daniel
From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Votes: 35
The Importance of Safe Driving
The Importance of Safe Driving
Boom! No one had expected that. The car flipped, on fire, as these people were trapped inside the wreckage. It was just a normal day for these groups of teenagers. They might’ve had fun, but at what cost. And now, loved ones are suffering from their loss. This truly shows how any accidents can happen anywhere at any time. We can never guarantee that we will be safe every drive to the grocery or mall, which highlights the importance of driving education has on you, me, and everyone else.
An average of 34,000 people die every year as a result from driving. Many people don’t consider the importance of driver’s education when looking at this statistic to think that it’s not too many. And knowing the fact that the number of deaths from driving is higher than some of the past wars America has been through is shocking. So, what can be done to reduce the fatality number?
There are countless ways to reduce accidents on the road. Since driving is a daily norm for millions of people, the education system should be modified. In this present system, the driving tests only require drivers to take it once if they passed. This isn’t ideal. The instructors will grade your ability and knowledge of road signs and basic rules. In the real driving world, new drivers will have to face situations that they have never experienced. Therefore, anxiety and panic will kick in making it unsafe. To tackle this issue, more than one test needs to be implemented. This is a good idea to build up confidence and awareness in new drivers which is key to safe driving. I’ve had my license for nearly a year. The more I drove, the better my driving skills were, as well as applying my knowledge from driver’s education enhanced my understanding. For experienced drivers, it would be the best option to take the writing test every couple of years to renew their license to refresh their memory of taking the writing test for the first ever time with an add-on that include a mental assessment. This will let everyone know that they’re a qualified and trusted driver.
I’ve noticed that if we ourselves are careful, it doesn’t ensure we will be safe from point A to point B because of others reckless driving. I thought to myself, how in the world did these people get their license? These people are usually overconfident drivers who think they own the road who want to just have more “fun” on the road. In reality, it’s not fun until it aggravates danger while on the verge of a crash. It also increases the chance of getting pulled over. Talking about getting pulled over, that’s one way to stop this sort of driving. The number of police on the road needs to be higher, thus preventing more people from breaking the law. In addition to this idea, cameras would be another advantage. Cameras would do the trick if police aren’t there to enforce the law. The problem is that it will be costly. So, a solution would be to not install all real cameras while the fake ones can inform the driver, somehow, that the driver is speeding.
In the end, it is mainly your responsibility to become a better driver. The majority of car accidents come from the drivers, which again, highlights the importance of driving education and putting in the extra effort to become better. According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and ScienceDirect, both mentioned that young drivers, typically aged 16-17, are usually at risk. New drivers should develop better driving habits. There are numerous ways such as no texting, not driving under the influence, no distractions, and etc. Furthermore, gaining new skills are crucial. I believe the key skill on the road is confidence. With confidence, you have the ability of lowering chances of failure and emotional symptoms. From driving with confidence, I realized that I developed my levels of anticipation and awareness of my surroundings. Self-control is also crucial as drivers can accumulate confidence level overtime. Learning what’s right and wrong on the road ensures safety for you and others.
From day one, I’ve always been a cautious driver. There are times when I’m tempted to grab my phone to change music, ignore the road signs, or drive illegally. Fortunately, I was able to control myself. Due to this, I always remind myself of the consequences. When you learn, always share the tips and information to the new and inexperienced. You never know you could’ve saved someone’s life. At the end of the day, it’s best to just follow the correct way you’ve been taught to drive.
In the beginning of this year, I experienced my first car crash. It was terrifying. There were five people, all teens, including me. I was a passenger in the back seat helping the driver navigate. Though in a matter of seconds, we were T-boned. We had a few small cuts and bruises, but my brother had it worse by a huge cut under his eye by the car window that shattered which he was then later taken to the hospital. We were lucky enough to survive the horrifying accident. This moment is added to the list of reasons why driver education is important, because we are now mentally affected. The crash was caused by an impatient driver who wanted to cross a major street which ended wrong. This adds another step in reducing the number of deaths: patience.
Ultimately, the point of driving is to get from one point to another. Recall all the lessons you’ve been taught in driving school and apply that in the real world. In a scenario where you’re late for work, don’t speed. If you get made fun of for following the law, don’t be embarrassed. Just remember that you have a higher chance of living longer than these types of people. So, next time you drive, ask yourself. Is it worth it?
Works Cited
Regev, Shirley, et al. “Crash Risk by Driver Age, Gender, and Time of Day Using a New Exposure Methodology.” Journal of Safety Research, Pergamon, 7 July 2018, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022437517307600.
Tefft, Brian C. “Rates of Motor Vehicle Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in Relation to Driver Age, United States, 2014-2015.” AAA Foundation, 14 June 2018,
