A Driver’s Guide To A Safer Ride

Being a driver in today’s world of constant distraction carries a danger with every second that passes. Even if the person in the driver’s seat is on the lookout. Without the correct training, an accident may happen at any time on a seemingly benign road without the proper training. When I rolled up at a 4-way intersection one afternoon, there was another car that stopped at the same time as me. Dreading this moment, I’d paused way too long until I heard my dad shout to take the right-of-way. I started to curve left, but the other car decided to go straight. – Horns honked, my heart was racing, and we’d almost crashed. At the moment I was so focused on what could happen, that I didn’t think to prevent it. That was the case until my dad yanked the steering wheel to the right – and saved us from almost crashing. Our narrow escape is still something I think about every time I get behind the wheel, and it’s one of the reasons I didn’t get my real driver’s license until I was 19. After driving with a learner’s permit for 4 years and seeing how dangerous the Houstons roads can be, I believe that a road test should be periodically renewed – not just as a teenager, but also throughout your life when you’re likely to brush off the most dangerous thing you do every day.

Even though driver’s ed classes emphasize safety, teenagers continue to see safety as another hurdle to clear before getting the ultimate symbol of freedom. With this mentality, the safety and caution touted in most Driver’s Ed classes are easily forgettable to most who want to skip it. According to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, teenagers who choose not to take part in driver’s ed are 24% more likely to get involved in an accident or crash! To better reform this, a good driver’s education shouldn’t emphasize blaming kids who haven’t even driven before (for a lot of young drivers’ bad habits) but should teach them ways to spot it and prevent it instead.

Another measure that can reduce teen accidents is to raise awareness about Driver’s Education as soon as possible. This could be done by recommending it to high schoolers or even middle schoolers – by presenting the dangers earlier, they’ll already be thinking of the risks when they actually start learning to drive. Personally, if there was a Driver’s Ed school assembly back in middle school, I would be ecstatic to take a break from 6th grade for a bit to dream of my future. Even though these talks are given to young students, making them aware of such important information will no doubt reduce future fatalities and crashes. Instilling a sense of responsibility in soon-to-be permit holders doesn’t only provide them with an aspiration to learn, but it also seals a boost of confidence when they get behind the wheel.

When driving on the daily, you might be too used to your routine and tend to slack off a little – but these habits may come back to bite you if you aren’t prepared. Like many other subjects, a good driver’s ed class can reduce the number of driving-related incidents only by helping fix mistakes. Without a qualified teacher, most kids would be frightened to get behind the wheel – forming unintentional habits that seem hard to break but easily avoidable.

Even by practicing daily habits, a driver is also expected to know what to do in different types of environments and scenarios. With the sheer number of road conditions out there, new drivers must pay attention at all times. Yet, most driving schools agree that distraction is the most dangerous factor for young drivers. Whether that’s from drinking or texting – distracted driving is the leading cause of 80% of US traffic accidents alone. How can we prevent this? Given the decades-long barrage of don’t text and drive messages, the best thing to do is to set a good example. Everyone should put away any distractions until it becomes second nature, like wearing a seatbelt and pulling over in an emergency. Most of the people I know who had been in car accidents were victims of distracted driving, whether it was their fault or someone else’s. By simply putting it down and focusing on the road ahead, you can end up saving countless lives.

As a young driver, I know that I’m far more likely to be involved in an accident than an older one – even if I believe I’m a good driver so far. There are still mistakes that I keep making from time to time – lessons that if I’m not mindful of (ie: not relying on a GPS, making the perfect u-turn, and artfully negotiating the right-of-way), can end up costing me a whole lot more when I’m in a rush. By making sure I continue being alert and responsible behind the wheel, I can protect myself and those around me as a defensive driver. I’d like to say this to my future self: if you’re ever in peril, no matter how tempted you are to close your eyes and escape that moment, always take a breath, scan the road, and be proactive in figuring out what to do next. Since if you don’t, then that tiny glance away, won’t be so tiny anymore.