Driver’s Education: The First Step Towards Reducing Driving Related Deaths

Driver’s education is a critical first step towards reducing the number of deaths caused by driving. Driver’s education gives inexperienced drivers a solid foundation in the basics and gives them a chance to drive with a trained instructor. By providing inexperienced drivers with a comprehensive overview of the rules of the road, it ensures that at the very least, everyone knows the rules. It would be impossible to reduce the number of deaths caused by driving without a mutual understanding of basic driving etiquette and rules. This etiquette is strengthened by having a chance to drive with an experienced instructor, as it works to create safe driving habits, not just memorizing and disregarding the rules. By doing so, it gives inexperienced drivers a chance to understand and commit to safe practices that ensure safer roads. Thus, driver’s education is a critical first step towards reducing the number of deaths caused by driving as it creates a mutual understanding of the rules, etiquette, and a chance to practice it.

However, more than driver’s education is needed to prevent deaths caused by driving. If driver’s education were enough, the number of deaths would decrease dramatically. Once granted a license, there is no promise that drivers will continue to follow these practices. This is a problem that extends beyond the reach of driver’s education and into the realm of attitude and culture surrounding driving.

Most of the work in promoting safe driving is to change how people approach driving in their daily lives. You can see the attitude surrounding driving when you’re on the road: running red lights, tailgating, speeding at speeds much faster than the speed everyone else is going, and so much more. Only a few weeks ago, a distant friend of my parents got into an accident when someone ran a red light, colliding with them. The majority are less reckless, but even then, people’s actions are often extremely dangerous: not using blinkers, distracted driving, driving faster than the speed limit, and more. I even see it in my parents and friends. Blinkers are forgotten occasionally, eyes are taken off the road for a split second to check the GPS, and sometimes seat belts aren’t strapped till we get to the main road. This creates a culture where these things are normal and accepted, even if they’re dangerous. To change the mortality rates due to driving, you need to change the attitude and culture surrounding driving.

This is something that relies primarily on the individual, as no one can force you to drive safely. Personally, there are things I can do to be a safer driver. First, I’d have to get more confident and drive more to get more experience. Confidence and experience go hand in hand (so I’m told), so the only way I’d get better is by driving more. As I drive more, I’ll have better judgment and make less judgment mistakes. Second, I could learn to not let people stress me out. I’ve encountered a few drivers that are quick to honk when I do a proper stop at the stop sign and that tends to cause stress. That can be dangerous as I’m more likely to rush, even if it may not be safe to do so. By not letting pressure affect my decisions, I will make safer decisions, even if it means waiting a little bit longer. Finally, continuing to exercise safe driving habits as I grow much more comfortable is important. By having good habits, it ensures drivers around me are aware of what I’m doing, and ensures I have enough time to react in case others around me don’t do the same.

As I mentioned before, you can’t force someone to be a safe driver. However, you can educate them on the dangers and help manage other tasks when they’re driving. Both aim to bring awareness and remind others of the importance of giving the road your full attention. Educating others on the dangers unsafe driving habits pose can help convince them to adopt safe driving habits. You can also encourage safe driving habits while they’re driving by offering to manage non-driving tasks: dealing with the GPS, passing backseat passengers things, or checking their bag. By doing so, you encourage them to focus on the road rather than focus on non-driving tasks. Directing their attention back towards driving means they’re less likely to miss something and crash. Obviously, this can’t be done when you’re not in the car or they’re driving alone, but it reminds them of the importance of giving the task of driving your full attention.

Driver’s education is a critical first step towards reducing the number of deaths from driving. It introduces inexperienced drivers to driving on the right foot. To reduce the number of driving-related deaths even more, it would require a change in culture and attitude towards proper driving habits. Everyone can do this by practicing the safe driving habits taught in driver’s education, educating others, and helping with non-driving tasks so the driver can focus on the road.