Mindful Driving

When you first get in the driver’s seat as a 16 year old, all you can think is “finally freedom.” What you don’t think about is how you could potentially hurt someone if you’re not careful. Driver education provides students with road awareness to be more cautious and drive defensively. Driver’s education courses are important in reducing the number of deaths from car accidents, by teaching students how to properly check their surroundings, learning the rules of the road, and actively practicing the rules of the road with a licensed instructor in a modified vehicle. It makes young drivers more aware of pedestrians crossing the streets, other drivers who might drive more aggressively, and the consequences of breaking driving laws. With this knowledge a young driver might be more hesitant to drink and drive, become an aggressive driver, and also be a safe driver in a variety of weather. Driving school does not only teach how to be safe and protect other people from the young driver, but it also protects the young driver from other drivers.

In order to reduce the number of deaths related to driving, laws could be put in place to require anyone getting their license to take a driving course. As of right now, only people under the age of 18 are required to take driving classes. If more people were required to take courses at any age, all new drivers would have a wider awareness while driving. Someone over 18 years old might be able to operate a vehicle, but they might not know the driving laws very well causing more car accidents. New drivers over the age of 18 do not learn how to drive defensively because they did not have the proper training to do so. Requiring continuing education classes for driving would also be a step that could help reduce the number of deaths by driving. If every 5 years or so, people were required to take a refresher driving course, it could greatly impact the safety of people driving. A nice little reminder can be helpful for drivers to be more mindful when they are driving. International drivers should also be offered a driving lesson with an overview of the laws, so they can also have more knowledge of how to drive in the US. Whether they implement a national law that requires a quick 2 hour class for international drivers or a lengthier process, something would be better than nothing.

I have had experiences driving with irresponsible drivers, as well as being an irresponsible driver. When I first got my license, I was a much more aggressive driver, because I was taught by an aggressive driver. I braked hard, I used the breakdown lane to pass traffic, I swerved through traffic, and I was an avid speeder. Since I was such an aggressive driver, I had several car accidents and violations. One major car accident gave me a concussion for four years. This major event changed the way I drove indefinitely. I have since become an extremely defensive driver. I typically stay under the speed limit, I no longer swerve through traffic, I am much more cautious of oncoming cars, I am more patient when getting places and I try to avoid driving when I am tired at all costs. Although I was accustomed to the driving laws from taking a drivers education class when I was 16, I still became an aggressive driver due to how I learned on the road. Without my driver’s education, I believe I would have been an even worse driver then I already was. I had the basics down because of the class, without the class, I could have made a lot more dangerous decisions.

Although I am a better driver than I used to be, I still have a lot to work on. I admit there are a lot of times I am in a rush. I no longer swerve through traffic, but being late gives me anxiety. At times, this anxiety can cloud my judgment. I might pull out sooner than I should because I thought I had enough time, but I end up cutting someone off. I don’t let people out when I have the chance because I don’t want anyone in front of me causing my travel time to increase. I might pass people on the highway going a little faster then I should, or hop on a speed train using drivers in front of me as a guard from the law. Allowing myself extra time to get where I am going and showing up early would greatly impact my current driving capabilities. It would allow me to sit in traffic without the anxiety of trying to get into the fastest moving lane. Extra time would deter me from cutting people off, even by accident because I would be more patient and focused. My goal while driving is to always get better, become more aware of my surroundings, and give myself the time I need to get from point A to point B. There are many ways individuals and communities can improve daily driving habits and reduce deaths by driving.