In The Driver’s Seat

What is the importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving?

Studies have shown that people who have not completed their driver’s education are 75% more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24% more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident, and 16% more likely to have an accident. People, especially teens that take driving education courses, are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation during their first two years of driving. These statistics show that those who complete driving education better understand the road rules, practice defensive driving techniques, and overall drive more confidently and safely.

What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, all new prospective drivers should start by taking a driving education course to build a foundational knowledge of the “rules of the road” where they live and pass a preliminary competency test before practicing with a real car. Prospective drivers should practice driving in a low-risk environment where they can experience the sensation of controlling the vehicle without putting others at risk while also learning how to identify and obey traffic signs, stop lights, and police officers if present. Another thing they should do is be self-aware of their surroundings and use common sense; for example, never driving while drunk or under the influence of any substance, never using their smartphones while driving, and always fastening their seat belt.

Have you ever had an experience of being in a car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

Yes, I was in a car accident when I was little. I come from a country where the law is not respected, and drivers often disregard the formal rules of the road. On one occasion, my dad stopped the car, and the driver behind us didn’t notice and crashed into the rear of our car. This accident could have been prevented if the driver of the other vehicle was not using their phone and paying attention to the road and their surroundings.

Another time I saw two cars crash right on my left and I remember that both vehicles turned in the opposite direction of each other and crashed. I don’t know the reason why they crashed, probably one of them was drunk, or they were both distracted, or it was a simple misunderstanding where one of them wanted to go in one direction and the other in the opposite direction. One thing I do remember is there wasn’t a traffic light in that area so it couldn’t have been a malfunction causing both vehicles to crash.

What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?

Being a better and safer driver starts by following the rules of the road and respecting the law. I will commit to always paying attention to the road and never driving tired or under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. I will use my headlights whenever it is dark or the climate conditions are extreme and practice driving slowly in such situations. I will respect signals, speed limits, and traffic lights because they are there to keep me and others around me safe. Finally, I will remember to practice patience as it is also an essential part of driving because, one day, I will likely find myself stuck in traffic or behind a driver that is driving too slowly for traffic and the best thing to do will be to remain calm and be patient and not start honking at the other driver.

To help other drivers become safer on the road, I will encourage them to take a driver’s education course before they try to drive a car or take their license test, to read the rule book and remember the rules of the road, and remind them to always stay focused while driving. Other novel ways to assist drivers rely on increasingly common driver assistance technology. For example, adding eye sensors to all vehicles. These sensors would be designed to monitor the driver’s eyes and recognize if the driver is looking somewhere else or is falling asleep and play a sound or vibration alert to remind the driver to return their eyes to the road again or to safely bring the vehicle to a complete stop (Driver Assistance Technologies | NHTSA, n.d.). Furthermore, according to Consumer Reports, by making the sensors that alert a driver of vehicles in their blind spot standard for every car (not just the fancy ones) we could equalize safety among all drivers and reduce the number of accidents (Barry, 2017). Another novel application of driver assistance technology (such as eye sensors) would be to detect blood alcohol levels for all drivers and not just for those already convicted of a DUI. By doing this, we could again equalize safety among the greatest number of drivers and prevent them from driving drunk or under the influence. Finally, I think it is most important to instill in prospective drivers respect for the law and the rules of the road so that they are aware that their actions can have potentially lethal consequences to themselves or others and that the rules are in place to keep everyone safe.

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