Ideas to Keep our Roads Safer

I am a true believer in the importance of driver education to help reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. Drivers should be required to take a driver education course every 3 years as part of their privilege to drive. Right now, there is an optional defensive driving course available to those who would like to reduce points on your license or to reduce insurance costs. I feel some type of driver education course would refresh one’s memory of roadway rules, tips for safe driving and may even protect one’s self in avoiding a future car accident. The course could cover topics such as whom has the right of way in certain situations, how to merge with traffic, the importance of using blinkers to notify other drivers of anticipated driving action coming shortly and when to get into an exit lane when one plans on leaving a highway. The lack of consideration in these types of situations by drivers have shown to lead to road rage and car accidents.

I think those who get a ticket for certain types of traffic violations should have to take a driver education course along with paying a fine. It would never hurt to get a refresher on driving etiquette and proper driving techniques.

Driver education classes for young drivers in high school should be highly encouraged. The in-car portion of these driver education classes is very valuable for the driver as well as the other students riding in the car. I know this first hand. While in the “student driver” car, the instructor can point out driving tips and how to handle certain situations as they happen. This is great hands-on learning.

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. For instance, the elderly may need to take a road test/written test on a bi-annual basis after a certain age or could substitute an in-car driver’s education session for a specific number of hours. Anyone taking certain medication may need to have their driving skills tested on a yearly basis. Individuals who cannot see over the hood of their car or see down the hood of their car should not be allowed to drive without some type of special seating that raises them up high enough to see over the front of their car and at least 15 feet ahead of the car’s front bumper.

Young adults should not be allowed to get a valid driver’s license when they turn their state’s required age to drive. Instead, they would get driver’s learner permit that allows them to drive with an adult over age 18 who has a valid driver’s license for a period of time. Then the young driver can take a road test to prove he/she has adequate driving skills to drive alone. I believe having someone critiquing a young driver’s skills for several months is valuable insight to a new driver.

For those who drink and drive or do drugs and drive, driving is a privilege not a right. I am going to leave this topic to the court judges. I do not understand how individuals who have multiple or a history of DWI/DUIs still have their license, own vehicles and continue to injure/kill others on the roadways.

I have never experienced being in a car accident or have I seen my friends or family member driving irresponsibly. But I watch the news and I look at the local news on my phone each day and sadly two or more individuals die each day as struck pedestrians, one car accidents, or kill others with reckless driving or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This makes my stomach sick. Most of these accidents are 100% preventable.

The steps I can take to be a better and safer driver on the road are: I can renew my defensive driver education course every three years, I can pull over/get out of harm’s way when I spot a possible reckless driver approaching me on the road and leave early enough to get somewhere on time by driving the speed limit and allowing for anticipated school bus stops and heavy traffic.

Some steps I can take to help others become safer on the roads are: I can talk about what I learned from my defensive driving course I took, attempt to hide/take away the car keys of someone with an altered mental state whether it is from medication or drugs/alcohol. I can hold the driver’s cellphone so it is not easily accessible while the driver is supposed to be concentrating on the roads. I could be another set of eyes by paying attention to what is going on around us as we are driving on the roadways.

I would agree the underlying facts relating to auto accidents are scarier than ever before. I am always shaking my head wondering what it is going to take for people to slow down, put the cellphone away and be mindful of other drivers as we share the roadways with motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians. You know what it is going to take – sadly a loss of a loved one from a preventable incident.