Learning from Tragedy on the Road

February 26, 2009

On Friday, February 20th, an SUV packed with one American and a group of foreign students who were studying in the United States swerved off the highway, crashed into a tree and burst into flames. Six of the seven people in the vehicle were killed.

According to California Highway Patrol officials, the vehicle, which was headed to the Los Angeles area, was traveling a mere five miles over the speed limit. While drivers education courses in California teach students how important it is not to speed—and while we don't yet know the full details of the accident—one could argue that the young driver behind the wheel of the doomed SUV was moving with the flow of traffic at a speed that might not necessarily even warrant being pulled over.

Apparently, according to initial reports and observations, alcohol was not a factor. The driver understood one of the fundamentals taught in drivers ed, echoed by police officers on the roads and hammered home by parents of young drivers – don't drink and drive.

So what led to the horrific traffic accident that caused six vehicle occupants to lose their lives? Initial reports indicated that the 19-year-old driver of the sport utility vehicle drifted into the dirt median of the highway and subsequently swerved to the right.

If we can learn anything from this tragedy, it's how imperative understanding what to do in emergency situations really is. While we don't know whether or not the driver or any of the victims took drivers training in their own country, accidents like this one could be avoidable if drivers pay attention to what's being taught in drivers education courses across California.

More often than not, when a driver encounters an unexpected situation, they tend to overcorrect instead of following what's outlined in drivers ed handbooks and taught in online drivers ed classes in California.

Instead of taking their foot off the accelerator, many drivers tend to overcorrect, causing their vehicle to swerve out of control. Poor road conditions can make things even worse. And in extreme cases like the one involving the SUV in California, the results can be tragic.

So why are so many drivers forgetting basic safety rules outlined in drivers ed classes? Well, part of the problem could be the way students take in information. Traditional drivers ed classes take place in a classroom with a few dozen other students.

For the most part, these courses are scheduled on the weekend or after school when most students prefer to do anything but be stuck in a poorly lit classroom. And that means their concentration is low. And when concentration is low, information is not retained.

And when information is not retained, well, the results could prove to be deadly.

An online drivers ed offering provides students with a one-on-one learning experience through interactive tutorials that are specifically designed to help them retain the information being taught and ultimately stay safe on the road. Since the course is taken whenever it's convenient for the student, new drivers are more apt to pay attention to the driver safety information being presented.

While no drivers ed course could ever promise to prevent 100% of all accidents, a California state-approved course like the one offered by DriversEdOnline.com can help students remember the key safety rules that too many drivers forget.

And on the road, remembering is the key to reacting. Something to think about.