Keep an Eye on the Blind

A new study has shown that young adults with a history of formal drivers’ education are 24 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal automobile accident. This study found that those without a formal drivers’ education were 16 percent more likely to be involved in an accident and 24 percent more likely for the accident to be fatal. With cars now integral to daily life, the need for education on safety regulations and driving etiquette is at an all-time high. Driving is highly complex and requires the same dedication needed to learn any other important skill. It involves concentrated focus, the ability to multitask and function basic gears, and develop skills such as: hazard perception, problem solving, and drivers’ judgement. Education on these topics can help to instill a sense of confidence in young drivers while also teaching them about the risks and consequences of poor driving techniques.

The importance of learning these new skills is vital for new drivers to reduce their risk of driving related deaths and should be carried out by well-educated adults. The first step to improving drivers’ safety is to invest in better education. With school funds being cut all around the country, drivers ed is often at the brunt of these cuts. With more funding, better educational materials, and hands-on lessons, students would get a better understanding of safe driving techniques. A well-rounded class should teach drivers the importance of memorizing traffic laws and signs, how to safely merge and change lanes, how to maintain speed and distance, the importance of seatbelt use, basic vehicle safety and maintenance, and what to do in the event of an emergency. Other important lessons should acknowledge the risks and consequences of driving under the influence, defensive driving, and pedestrian road rights.

Everybody can think to a time they have been witness to unsafe driving practices, but what is to stop students from making the same mistakes if they are not given better influence? Many schools allow two separate paths to obtaining their permit. One includes a formal drivers safety course, and the other requires students to log driving hours supervised under an adult with a valid driver’s license. While this may be a popular option for families that cannot afford drivers ed classes, it does not provide the proper education that a well-funded school program could. Early intervention lesson plans are vital for developing safe driving habits for young people, as it is less likely that an adult will change poor driving habits after obtaining their license.

As a young adult, I have witnessed many unsafe drivers and have supported family members directly affected by automobile accidents. In 2010, my aunt was in a black-ice related car accident that broke both of her legs and landed her in a hospital bed for several months while she recovered. Her accident was due to improper weather safety education. A few years later, in 2017, my mom also fell victim to an automobile accident when her truck hydroplaned on the highway and her immediate reaction was to slam on the breaks, which caused the vehicle to spin out of control and flip over the guard-rails. Their accidents left permanent damage on their physical body and psyche, as well as lasting trauma for their families. In both instances, the accident could have been prevented with more in-depth drivers’ safety education.

Moreover, when I was learning to drive, I had a very lenient instructor that never taught me to drive on highways. This led to years of anxiety surrounding high traffic areas and merging lanes. To this day, I still avoid highways and large cities as much as possible. Had my school invested in more thorough safety lessons, I would have had more confidence in my capabilities after repetitive supervised practice and guidance.

I maximize road safety by staying up to date on the latest traffic laws, frequently going over emergency safety procedures, and ensuring every passenger has their seatbelt buckled. The easiest way to remember common road safety tips, is to create acronyms. Always be sure to follow LLLC: Look ahead, Look around, Leave room, and Communicate. In case of an emergency, use the three S’s to prevent collision: Stop, Steer away, or Speed up. Always be sure to share safety tips where you can and be open to answering questions from younger generations on how they can stay safe too! Change starts with us. You can’t control the actions of others, but you can control yours. Be sure to keep an eye on your blind because you won’t be able to hit rewind.