Nine Steps
to a new
Driver Education
Can
Canadians be the best drivers in the world?
Here are some steps that might get us there by 2020:
Prepare the social skills and the mindset
Preparation for driving starts in kindergarten
and continues thoughout one’s life. Purpose: to instill necessary
social and psychological skills, insights, attitudes and motivations needed
for cooperative interaction in the social space of the road.
Make
training in defensive driving
and cooperative driving mandatory
Drivers need to defend themselves in the present environment. As
driving improves, the emphasis shifts to cooperation rather than defence.
Teach
risk perception
The
present carnage on our roads is in large measure due to a wide gap between
perceived and actual risk.
Create a core of model
drivers
Why not public transportation, taxis (what a switch!), and police?
Or just anyone who is willing to commit to a standard.
Examine the cultural context of driving and
deal with influences that impact negatively on driving
We need to examine both the driving culture and the wider culture
of which it is part. The impact of the ad culture, role model and gender
influence, the addiction to speed, the habit of always being in a hurry
etc.
Review driver capabilities
periodically
Upgrading as needed. Collision accountability. Drivers must answer
for their collisions.
Celebrate good drivers
Awards, rewards, recognition for good driving. Good drivers are celebrated.
For no collisions. For no violations. Insurance premiums diminish with
each collision-free year till premiums fall to zero. And...
Agree on the rules of the game and enforce them
Heavy enforcement/encouragement
for an initial period. Use of smart technology. Detection of those who
flaunt their disregard for the rules of the game must improve drastically.
Create real road tests
Test for the skills needed in today’s driving environment—social
skills! And continue to make the driving environment—and drivers—more
forgiving.
read
more
on
the declining culture
of the roadway
Could traffic technology
overcome the new aggressive road culture by 2020?
