After nearly 36 years teaching defensive driving for AAA, Joe Slazak has seen just about everything that can happen on the road.

And despite what many drivers think, the biggest change isn’t that people are getting worse behind the wheel.

"Drivers are not getting worse," Slazak said. "There's just more of them."

With millions of drivers on the road, even a small percentage of careless or distracted drivers adds up quickly. And that’s what many people are noticing—not necessarily a drop in skill, but more drivers on the road overall.

So what actually separates a safe driver from the rest?

According to Slazak, it comes down to one thing: focus.

"I would say the worst of the worst are the ones that are essentially clueless to how dangerous driving really is and don't focus on it at all," Slazak explained.

Slazak taught defensive driving classes part time for decades while also working full time with the New York State Thruway Authority, where he served as an accident investigator. That experience shaped how he approached every class.

On the Thruway, he regularly dealt with serious crashes—sometimes fatal—and saw firsthand how quickly things can go wrong behind the wheel. Teaching became a way to take those difficult experiences and turn them into something useful.

And across all those years, one issue came up again and again: distraction.

Texting while driving, for example, can be even more dangerous than driving under the influence because it completely takes a driver’s attention off the road.

But distraction isn’t the only issue. Aggressive driving and overconfidence also play a role. Many drivers assume they’re above average—but by definition, a large portion aren't.

"There's that 50 percent mark," Slazak said. "And half the drivers are better than average. But half the drivers are below average. When you consider how many millions of drivers there are, that's a lot of people."

After decades behind the wheel and in the classroom, one lesson stands out: safe driving isn’t just about skill. It’s about awareness, patience, and giving the task the attention it deserves.

As Slazak celebrates his retirement, there's one thing we know he won’t give up – safe driving. In recognition of his dedication to safety, we ask everyone to strive to be above average drivers. Together, we can save lives.

Sharpen your driving skills, qualify for up to 10% off portions of your auto insurance, and reduce up to four points off of your license with AAA's Defensive Driving course.

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