The Importance of Driver Safety

Nothing is scarier than getting behind the wheel for the first time. I made sure to watch plenty of driving videos, only drive with a trusted adult, and remember all of the road signs by my house. I had maybe overprepared, but you could never be too safe. Things were going well, I passed the speedometer by my house and was going a perfect 44 mph. I maintained a good distance between me and the car in front of me, and I was so proud. Until a driver in a blue sedan didn’t stop before their right-on-red and pulled out in front of me. I slammed on my breaks, but was too shaken up to honk. I pulled over and asked my mom to finish the drive. What had gone wrong? I knew they could see me, I knew I wasn’t going too fast or too slow, I had the right lights on and no distractions. When I got home, I reached for my online textbook but couldn’t find a section on dealing with uneducated drivers. All I found was how to drive assertively, so I read that.

After a lot of convincing, I reluctantly got back in the driver’s seat and attempted another drive. But I couldn’t help but think about what caused them to not stop, not yield even. The only conclusion I came to was that they were probably 40 or so years out from their driver’s education class and other “training” they had to do to earn their license.

Many deaths as a result of driving as well as minor fender benders are built on the foundation of drivers who are uneducated on the road. While student driver education is crucial to seamlessly introduce young people on the road, a large portion of the issue may be attributed to the fact that most of the drivers on the road have forgotten their driving courses.

In taking my five hour course, the other participants and I were definitely impacted by the video of the dangers of impaired driving, and driving in general. While the shock has worn off, it is something that I think of every single time I buckle up. Adults who haven’t seen that video in decades are less likely to see driving as a major responsibility, but just as a way they get to and from work.

It is easy to forget a lot of the things taught in driver’s ed, especially when you have been driving for many years and feel more experienced than anyone else on the road. But, that’s not the case. In order to reduce the number of driving-related-deaths, the first step is accessibility. DMVs can host free or low cost driver’s education classes at local libraries, they can attend events at high schools and fairs to encourage everyone to attend a session. Maybe there is some incentive, like snacks or more credibility on the road. In addition to full classes, there could be mini-classess offered, since it’s been proven that memory lasts longer when information is received in bite-sized pieces. It also makes it more accessible for busy people.

NYS can encourage or mandate a retest for drivers every X amount of years after a certain age, to ensure that drivers are still physically and mentally fit to be on the roads. Like a medical certification expires to ensure the holder maintains up-to-date methods, drivers should have to go through similar steps to keep that privilege.

It is easy for people to leave a driver’s education course saying they learned something, and then immediately forgetting it on the ride home. It’s not necessarily their fault, but it’s part of being a human. To increase the chance that new and seasoned drivers remember their courses, some sort of hands-on aspect would be influential. In my science class, we tried to do different tasks with “drunk goggles” to see the drastic effects that alcohol has on simple tasks like walking in a line. It was very memorable and could be a great addition to five-hour courses or driver’s education since it gives the student a real concept of impaired driving, and will likely leave them relieved to take the glasses off.

What is incredibly important is enforcing school zone speed limits and laws. At my high school, they recently lowered the speed limit on the adjacent road and it has made a world of difference in the number of accidents caused there. For the first few weeks, there was a sheriff there making sure students were able to safely exit and catching speeders. Specifically in my high school, seniors are allowed to drive themselves in. It can be scary with a lot of new drivers having a mass exodus in one place, but with the heavy coverage from campus safety and county sheriffs, us and our parents are able to feel comfortable.

Encouraging friends and family to follow posted signs and state laws is a big part of making the road a safer place. For parents, leading by example in driving your children is crucial to foster good habits and encouraging student drivers to pay attention to the road when in the passenger seat can help. When events are hosted at our local library, my mom and I like to go and learn something new. We recently heard about a Narcan seminar and ended up bringing a few friends with us. Just by word of mouth, the event gained four more attendees and produced overdose-educated people equipped with the materials to handle that situation. Free events like these are the way individuals can bring a big idea, like safer driving, to a community and encourage its citizens to partake.