Safer roads together

If you asked me about a year ago what the importance of driver education was I honestly wouldn’t have an answer for you, because up until now I didn’t really even have time to consider getting a driver’s license let alone other people’s way of driving. Even though I could’ve gotten my driver’s license when I was sixteen or at least tried for my learner’s permit, I am at the ripe age of nineteen trying my hardest to get my driver’s license.

In the beginning I tried to rush my progress as soon as possible, not taking into account why people take so long to learn how to drive while others don’t. As a result I failed my first ever driving test over a simple mistake that may have cost someone their life in a real situation. I like to think that is when I started to realize the importance of drivers’ education. That’s also when I realized I didn’t need to just learn how to drive and needed to understand it by implementing it with practice; even practice has rules and structure. I believe that the reason why driver’s education is important for lowering fatalities is because it teaches awareness and skill-building. We also learn how to be a defensive driver, how to avoid risky actions, and how to break bad habits before they get ingrained inside of us through trying to learn how to drive. So through engaging discussions and real-world examples, students are taught the effects of risky driving. They are taught to be more conscious of speeding, aggressive driving, and other harmful habits and prioritize their own safety. Driver education teaches us to have strong insight on defensive driving, which enables students & people to foresee potential issues, take quick action, and maintain safe following distances. This method of learning in itself helps decrease likelihood of collisions and protects people from unknown dangers that may occur. You start to question what other steps can be put in place to help reduce deaths.

An excellent place to start is by examining the road infrastructure, the safety of pedestrians and cyclists, and the sign visibility. Road safety is significantly enhanced through infrastructure improvements, clear signage, and traffic signals. Identifying high-risk areas and implementing changes like traffic-calming measures and pedestrian crossings can significantly improve road safety. Pedestrian and cyclist safety is also crucial, with dedicated bike lanes and separate pedestrian walkways protecting vulnerable users. Accidents involving these groups can be decreased by raising awareness of shared duties and safe roadsharing. Participation of the community in road safety campaigns also increases awareness of the dangers of reckless driving and the value of obeying the law. Road accidents, injuries, and fatalities can be dramatically decreased by actively recognizing problems and lobbying for solutions, making roads safer for everyone in the neighborhood. An illustration of this is when a neighborhood banded together to ask their local government to put speed bumps in an area after receiving numerous complaints about speeding on a certain road. I’ve seen this happen in my neighborhood and put speed bumps in place in an area that was known for its weekly crashes.

Despite never being involved in a crash of my own, I have seen a lot of irresponsible driving. I’ve witnessed reckless drivers driving in and out of small spots merely to avoid waiting. I’ve occasionally witnessed drivers that drive really fast to get where they’re going or drivers who fail to use their turn signals. You start to understand what to avoid doing when driving after seeing these incidents every time you drive or someone you know drives. Some steps I personally take to improve driving, I regularly check my mirrors, blind spots, and watch for drivers exiting main roads or pedestrians crossing the street. By practicing this, I am preparing my mind to recognize potential circumstances. When approaching a green light, for instance, there is still a potential that someone will run a red light, thus it is necessary to examine both sides of the road to prevent this. Another instance is when you may have the green light to make a turn, but pedestrians decide to cross the street just as you are about to turn. It’s a good habit to have, particularly as you practice being more aware of the roads and your surroundings.

With that being said, being a safer driver is a personal commitment to the environment and society. We all have a part in making roads safer by adhering to traffic laws, avoiding distractions, keeping a safe following distance, driving defensively, respecting vulnerable road users, adjusting to weather conditions, and being composed. We can promote a culture of road safety and have a beneficial impact on communities by setting an example and encouraging others to adopt appropriate driving practices. This will make our roads safer for everyone in the long run.