Saving Lives Through Safe Driving

Emeonye 11

Andrew EMeonye

DmvEdu.org

Driver Education Initiative

28 March 2021

Driving Safely Through Preparation and Proper Understanding

As humans the safety of our well being is important if we want to preserve our lives and live with the hope of the next day to come. Even though this may be the case, certain factors in this world such as driving can pose a potential threat to those who fail to understand the importance of being behind the wheel. On March 5, 2021 the National Safety Council (NSC) reported that exactly 42,061 people died in 2020 due to vehicle crashes alone, a drastic eight percent increase from the total last year. This statistic alone is alarming and needs to be drilled into the minds of people around the world and especially the youth who wish to be much more independent through diving in their future. This reality can only be achieved through receiving the proper training and education in regards to driving on the road which will only help lower driver fatalities and provide an overall safer system on the road.

Drivers education classes obtained online, in-person, and even at school for the youth provides both new and experienced drivers alike with the gracious opportunity of being taught by quality instructors and truly learning the basics and mechanics behind driving that are usually forgotten by most drivers which could be the difference between life or death if a driver is ever put under potentially fatal circumstances. Even though many people view driver’s education as something that could conflict with their time or schedules, time and patience is required in order to master anything in life and when something is truly mastered benefits result from that person’s hardwork and dedication. This same principle applies to drivers education as they provide a plethora of life changing benefits such as mechanical knowledge on changing motor oil and tires which can help those to save money, advice regarding the rules of the road to help drivers avoid road tickets and citations, and even insurance coverage for drivers who’ve taken the drivers education program and understand the responsibility that comes with being a driver. This type of information and benefits though understandable are sadly ignored by most people in today’s society who don’t take driving seriously and fail to understand the level of importance drivers education can have on an individual. This program helps to save lives as it provides crucial information regarding the dangers for the road which helps to minimize the death total of drives every year to some degree.

As mentioned drivers education can teach many valuable lessons when it comes to the road however a few of the most important steps to avoid potential dangers can be applied through remembering and repetition. Crucial steps such as avoiding distractions, never driving when feeling the need to sleep, and following traffic laws and signs may seem to be simple and easy to follow, however these examples are the main causes for the large number of driving accidents and deaths throughout history. “From 2009 to 2013, over 72,000 police-reported motor vehicle accidents involving drowsy drivers”, The Zebra reports. For me personally this statistic is horrifying to think of especially since I’ve experienced this in my life. It was January of last year when my father began to drive very early in the morning to our local religious Kingdom Hall when all of a sudden his mind wandered off the road due to lack of sleep the previous night, causing him to rear-end a car in front of him. This accident traumatized me for a while however looking back at it now the accident could have possibly been avoided if I had just simply told my father to “slow down” or that “there’s a car incoming”. Many people today can learn from my experience both from my father and I’s mistakes by focusing on what’s happening on the road and speaking out when a potential danger is felt as either a driver or a passenger. These steps along with the ones I’ve learned through my experience are lessons that I try to apply everyday when driving to stay safe on the road.

The high responsibility of driving is no joke as many people lose their lives every year in relation to accidents on the road. The number of fatalities however can be diminished through the proper training and education before a person steps foot on the wheel. Various steps and lessons learned through programs such as drivers education can help all drivers to stay safe and drive with confidence on the road.