The Wrong Song & the Expensive Lesson

We’ve all been there. A new driver’s license, a new (to me) car…..cruising down the road, enjoying our favorite music and the freedom of being behind the wheel. Then it happens. A song we hate comes on, and we have to do something about it immediately.

That was me just a few years ago, and what happened next made a big impact on me and my approach to driving. Rather than wait for a safe time and place to change the song, I took my eye off the road for just an instant to change the station. But instead of cruising along to a new song, I ended up off the road in a construction zone. The underside of my car was heavily damaged, and a total loss. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but I was really shook up. Later, I realized how lucky I was, and decided I needed to be better.

Since that accident, I’ve made a conscious effort to become a safer driver and help others do the same. Here are the things I do to be a safer driver:

• Eliminate Distractions: I make it a habit to stow my phone away and resist the urge to check messages or social media while driving. Removing distractions allows me to focus solely on the road and what’s going on around me.

• Maintain a Safe Following Distance: Maintaining a safe following distance behind other vehicles provides time to react to sudden stops or maneuvers, and reduces the risk of rear-end collisions.

• Stick to the Speed Limit: Speeding not only increases the likelihood of accidents but also reduces the time available to react to unexpected situations.

• Use My Turn Signals: I make it a habit to use my turn signals consistently. This small gesture enhances communication on the road and helps prevent misunderstandings and collisions.

• Encouraging Responsible Driving: Even though I was embarrassed by my accident, I shared my experience with friends who were/are also new drivers. Hopefully I influenced them to be safer behind the wheel as well.

The Importance of Driver Education:

Prior to getting my driver’s license, I never had any formal driver’s education. I went out with my parents and practiced on the road. While my parents tried to be good teachers, when I think back to my accident, I feel like having a structured driver education program to go along with my practice would have made a big impact on my early days as a new driver – and maybe even kept me from having my accident in the first place.

Everyone has a moral obligation to operate a vehicle safely and responsibly, but how many of us start driving without any real driver education foundation beyond what we get from our parents? Driver education can be and should be the foundation for responsible and safe driving that all new drivers receive.

It helps new drivers, like me, go beyond the basics, and learn the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to navigate the road. With a formal driver education program, we can learn the rules and regulations that govern our behavior on the road, how to handle different driving conditions, and how to anticipate and respond to potential hazards.

Driver education can also focus on the importance of defensive driving, and learning good safety habits from the beginning. Understanding defensive driving enables us to remain vigilant, anticipate the actions of other drivers, and take proactive measures to avoid collisions. Defensive driving is especially crucial in preventing accidents caused by the negligence of others, such as distracted or intoxicated drivers.

Steps to Reduce Deaths Related to Driving:

• Enhanced Driver Education Programs: Governments and educational institutions should invest in comprehensive driver education programs that go beyond the basics. These programs should use real-life scenarios and practical experiences to prepare new drivers for the challenges they may encounter on the road.

• Stricter Licensing Requirements: This may be controversial, but stricter licensing requirements could help ensure new drivers start out more capable and responsible. This could mean a longer learner’s permit period, more required supervised driving hours, and even requiring more difficult driving tests.

• Better Roads & Traffic Management: Governments should prioritize investing in road infrastructure improvements, such as better signage, well-maintained roads, and implementing traffic reducing measures in accident-prone areas. These initiatives can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and fatalities. In my own community, we’ve seen the use of a double diamond crossover interchange and jug handle turns to help reduce traffic congestion and accidents in high traffic areas.

In conclusion, driver education plays a crucial role in reducing the number of accidents and deaths resulting from driving. By starting education early on that emphasizes responsible driving practices, we can make safety a habit for more new drivers. But that’s not the only solution to reducing accidents. There are ways our elected officials and government agencies can help. Programs such as enhanced driver education, stricter licensing requirements, and infrastructure improvements can help address the broader issue of road fatalities.

My personal experience with a minor accident caused by distracted driving had a big impact on me as a new driver. While I was fortunate to escape without injuries, the incident made me very much aware of how a single, short distraction could have disastrous consequences on the road. Ultimately, it was the wrong song that taught me the right lessons about driver safety and the need for better driver education.