In the Driver’s Seat Essay

In the modern day, there are several forms of transportation to get around from one place to another, with almost all of them arguably superior to how transportation was several hundred years ago. However, they are far more dangerous, with one taking an average of 34,000 people a year in America alone, which shockingly is more deaths than all of the U.S. soldiers who fought in the wars of Afghanistan and Iraq combined. This form of transportation is driving. As great as technological improvements can be, irresponsible, reckless, and dangerous use of them can be fatal and have devastating consequences, automobiles being no exception.

Luckily, we have steps, rules, and laws implemented for the safety of both the drivers on the road and the pedestrians walking on the sidewalks. To get a learner’s permit, one must pass a driver’s education class. Having personally taken one, you are required to study and learn the rules and laws of the road and driving, for both federal and state, as some states have different laws and regulations than other states. As part of this, you are also informed about the dangers and hazards you might encounter while driving and what to do if said problem happens. This is crucial as one can’t possibly know when a problem will happen to them. However, by learning what to look out for and how to handle the situation, the driver will be prepared and informed on minimizing harm to themselves, their passengers, and those around them. These include, but aren’t limited to, dealing with possible drunk drivers, large trucks, wet, snowy, or icy roads, heavy rain or snow, thick fog, and late-night driving. While some of those would depend on your state, as states without snow wouldn’t have to worry about the issues of snow and ice, you are taught the steps that should be taken to ensure the safety of yourself and everyone around you. On top of learning “how” to deal with problems that might arise, they also explain “why,” showing the effects that things such as DUI (driving under the influence) and distracted driving have on the driver and how they hinder your cognitive abilities to react quickly to what’s happening around you. Alongside this, you also learn about the consequences of your lack of attention to the road when you are distracted by things such as phone calls, texts, navigating, and passengers.

Despite the need to pass this exam being a requirement to obtain a learner permit and then a license, the lessons don’t mean anything if the consequences aren’t taken seriously. This is when one is caught breaking the law while driving. Some examples are driving without a license or an expired license, driving without a license plate or an expired license plate, speeding, dangerous or reckless driving, and DUI. While most of these will result in either a ticket, a fine, or even jail, vehicle confiscation, and license confiscation if caught under multiple offenses, there can be more done to solidify the fact that what the driver had done was wrong and shouldn’t be done or attempted again. In Florida, speeding fines are doubled in school zones during school operation hours and when construction workers are out working around the road. While this seems nice at first, as it shows the care and consideration that reckless driving will not be tolerated around those trying to better our infrastructure near and around the roads or in areas that educate our future generations, that’s about it. While not everyone gets caught breaking the law while driving, for some, it’s something that they can shrug off quickly as they have the money to pay the ticket and get a warning. Having the price of fines and tickets given to drivers who break the law while driving increased would solidify the seriousness of breaking the law and endangering the people around you. While some might argue against this, stating that not everyone would be able to pay the ticket or acceptable if they’re caught, it shows how impactful it will be. I know that as humans, we make mistakes from time to time, and it is understandable for those who get pulled over because they made a mistake; however, people will be more discouraged from breaking the law if they know that the price to pay is more significant than what they can afford. Despite that, there will still be people attempting to break the law and avoid being caught, which leads to the second change that should be made: to increase police monitoring on the roads. Part of the issue is that there may not be a police officer in the area when someone is speeding or driving recklessly. By having more officers available to monitor the roads, there is less chance that someone driving dangerously will do so without being caught. Lastly, there should be fewer warnings for repeated offenses and greater punishments, from increased jail time to an extension of when they can get their license back, as long as it reinforces that their reckless driving behavior won’t be tolerated on the road.

While I have personally never been in a car accident myself, my brother and mother have been in one together. Despite this, I have found him speeding from time to time while with him when he drives. To prevent him from getting himself hurt again, or worse, someone else, I can remind him of the dangers of driving recklessly and the consequences for doing so to discourage him from this behavior before it becomes a bad habit. As for myself, I can ensure that I remain vigilant while driving to reduce the chances of being caught off guard when a problem happens, allowing myself more time to think and react to the situation in a manner that won’t harm myself or those around me.