The Tragedy of Young Drivers

Dax E. Burk, a Hemlock High School student, was driving with his friends on Saturday, May 20th, on 7 Mile Road in Frankenlust Township, MI, when his car crashed into a ditch, injuring two of his friends and fatally injuring himself. Dax was 18, just days away from graduation. This tragic incident not only illustrates how unsafe driving claims more lives annually than war but also highlights the urgent need to curb these fatal crashes. Advanced technology in cars has evolved enough to attribute the blame for these fatal crashes to drivers. The unfortunate death of Dax serves as evidence of the failures within society and its treatment of young drivers, stemming from the lack of proper driver’s education. The importance of driver education and the steps necessary to reduce driving-related deaths, along with personal experiences and measures to promote road safety, will be explained in this essay.

The act of driving may come as second nature to most, but for young drivers, these habits are not innate and can lead to a higher likelihood of accidents. A naturalistic driving study indicated that sixteen to nineteen-year-olds are twice as likely to be in an accident compared to older drivers. Despite this, a separate survey of two thousand eight hundred teens revealed that seventy-five percent of them were confident in their driving abilities, despite fifty-seven percent being involved in crashes or near-misses. This demonstrates that young drivers are both inexperienced and overconfident, necessitating assistance in honing their skills. Moreover, students who have held their license for longer periods are more prone to forgetting what they’ve learned. Enhanced knowledge of current laws and traffic norms can reduce overconfidence among these young drivers, resulting in safer roads.

To address the issues mentioned earlier, a multi-perspective approach is essential for finding the best solutions. While it’s true that young drivers who have held their licenses for longer might forget, mandating them to return to classrooms for information they’ve already learned could be counterproductive, especially as they juggle various commitments. Utilizing Public Service Announcements (PSAs) or advertisements to inform people, particularly young drivers, about new laws and basic driving skills can effectively refresh their memory and improve the overall driving system.

To further enhance driver safety, a focus on extreme cases is necessary. Driving-related deaths are alarmingly common, with motor vehicle crashes identified as the leading cause of death among teens by the CDC. Technological errors are less frequent. However, in the past decade, cars have evolved in terms of collision technology, incorporating features beyond airbags, such as collision warning systems, blind-spot recognition, and alert sensors. While these advancements offer a logical solution, they cannot eliminate the impact of human error. The decisions made by drivers that increase the likelihood of accidents—both intentional and unintentional—require more prolonged efforts to mitigate, given that teens are naturally resistant to being told what to do. Transforming the mindsets of teens regarding driver safety can address both aspects of this problem.

Engaging stories create compelling experiences and emotions shared among humanity. In my experience, my father contributed to my fears of driving. Having been born and raised in Toronto, where unsafe driving is sometimes considered necessary for daily commutes to work or school, there have been several near-miss experiences while he was driving, highlighting how perilous driving can be, irrespective of a person’s experience. According to VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, “Stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts.” Human error can never be eradicated, only minimized. It should be utilized as a tool for sharing perilous experiences that leave a lasting impression.

In my opinion, one of life’s most challenging tasks is bidding farewell to someone you love. Even more arduous is saying goodbye to your child. Imagine a parent having to bid adieu to their son via a roadside sign reading, “‘You’ll be missed. Love U Buddy.’” Dax had his entire life ahead of him, which was abruptly cut short due to human error and a roadside ditch. However, many lawmakers are slow to take action. They argue that the impact on a small number of people is insufficient to warrant attention. This assumption is incorrect. The magnitude of people affected by such tragedies is catastrophic, even for individuals like myself who did not know Dax. The tragedy involving Dax E. Burk underscores the significance of safety in teenage life. A single mistake by a young adult should not determine the outcome of their life, and it is incumbent upon us to forgive them. Driver’s safety remains a glaring issue in need of resolution. To address this problem, a compromise—historically proven to solve issues—becomes imperative. Collaborative efforts, incorporating multiple perspectives, real-life stories, and thorough research, will undoubtedly lead to a definitive solution.