Drivers ed, The Merits of Taking it Seriously

Driver
Education

The
Merits of Taking it Seriously

Day
in and day out, we hear about, see in the news, or personally witness
reckless driving. It takes many forms; drunk driving, distracted
driving, showing off or showing out, medical issues affecting
judgement, and many more. You have seen your friends or family doing
it. You personally have probably done it yourself. I know I have.
The need to respond, or to feel fast. Im guilty. My wife, my
brother, my dad, my sister, my mother. We have all done it.

This
is why it is more important than ever for a new driver to take their
driving education seriously. To learn how to avoid that little sedan
whose driver thinks they are Dale Earnhardt Jr. or to avoid the
collision up ahead. Proper education is your weapon on the road. It
protects you from other mistakes if you apply it.

It
is possible that more stringent and thorough vetting processes are
needed for the acquisition of a driver’s license. So often you see
dangerous habits on roadways. Careless cutoffs of large semis,
near-misses, and unnecessary damage caused by people in too great of
a hurry. My mother is an example of medical issues causing
frightening experiences on the road. Her diabetes can cause her to
become dizzy and be unsteady behind the wheel. Fortunately, she has
learned to notice the signs of these episodes and avoids driving
during them.

New
technologies are emerging in this age that may one day completely
prevent driver induced wrecks. Self driving vehicles are on the
rise. The technology will allow you to text away to your heart’s
delight, to go out with friends and drink and still safely make it
home without endangering everyone around you. These devices take the
responsibility off of drivers to be safe, but until they are
perfected it is your responsibility when you are behind that wheel to
harken back to the driving education you were given and perform to
the best of your ability, or failing that, to abdicate your driving
right to someone who can do so safely.

If
you see a pattern developing of bad habits, or of people complaining
about your driving, be proactive and seek further education. Take
steps to be the best driver you can be. Download a driving app for
your phone that will help prevent you from driving distracted.
Follow the law and keep your keys out of the ignition when you are
drinking. Take a defensive driving course so that you are not on the
receiving end of a nasty fender bender or worse.

Remember
you are responsible for your driving and your own safety. It
shouldn’t be the responsibility of every other driver to account
for your foolish habits, nor your responsibility to account for
theirs. The only way the road will get safer is by drivers taking
responsibility for themselves or by removing the driver from the
picture.

Stay
Safe on the road.