Reckless Driving: The Consequence and Solutions

I live in the state of California, where according to the NHTSA, around 4,285 people die in fatal car accidents each year. Teens such as myself represent a disproportionate size of this chilling statistic, making up around 243 deaths every year, despite driving the least miles by age group. Those who die are not simply numbers. They are members of a community, children buried by parents, valuable and full lives which could have gone on for many more were it not for a split second mistake which marred and ruined everything. This is why it is essential to redirect our attention to automotive safety, and focus on ways to keep people and teens safe on the roadway.

     In my own life, I have been fortunate enough to never have been involved in a car accident of any kind. However, my grandmother was in a serious rollover accident when my dad was younger, and was in the hospital for several days. She told me the full story when I started learning how to drive myself, and used her own experience as an example for me to learn from. As a previous reckless driver, my grandmother often sped far over the speed limit, concerning the rest of the family. One day, she simply took a turn too fast for her car to handle, and rolled it several times before eventually coming to a stop. The car was completely wrecked, but luckily, no one else was hurt and there was minimal property damage besides the vehicle. She ended up with multiple broken ribs, and even needed pins in her hands for a while to be able to perform everyday tasks. After this incident, she became much more cognizant of her speed, and in conversations with me emphasizes the importance of this awareness and caution.

     This cautionary tale highlights the importance of a neglected service within our society: driver’s education. Statistically speaking, people are the safest drivers in the first few months after they receive their license, but this effect quickly dwindles with time. As drivers become older, confidence on the road tends to outpace the actual skills they have developed.Thus, a potential solution would be a refocus on emphasizing a continued drivers education program which goes throughout adulthood and must be updated after a period of time. While this might seem excessive and cumbersome, it’s important to remember that driving is often the most dangerous part of someone’s day, so learning or recalling how to perform the task safely would be for the benefit of everyone on the roadway. Besides, the good from saving even one life outweighs some insignificant inconvenience to drivers. Such a renewal process could also be used to explain changes in roadway signage or new traffic codes and update drivers on the most current information. An update to drivers on new laws is an excellent opportunity to remind them of previously existing safety information as well. These more advanced renewal processes could have an effect similar to the seatbelt initiatives of the 80’s, where despite some small public resistance a massive increase in roadway safety would be possible. 

      Another option besides direct government intervention could be subsidizing private driver’s education programs across the nation. When I first got my license, I had the chance to enroll in one of these classes, and it dramatically improved my own abilities to navigate tough situations on the road. Several of the instructors were former NASCAR drivers, and they gave guidance on skills such as accident avoidance and escaping a hydroplane. They even offered the chance to practice behind the wheel at their instruction, with cars provided by the program. Funding classes like this would encourage more people to learn advanced driving skills, and help improve safe driving across America. The basic skills taught to most Americans tend to be inadequate for emergency situations, so programs like these could help during the times it matters most. After all, it is impossible to control how other drivers act on the road, so helping improve the skills of individuals who seek out these chances to improve will benefit all drivers.

     Driver’s education, whether public or private, plays a foundational role in protecting lives on the road. In my own personal experience, I’ve seen the damage that can be dealt when a person is not properly taught the risks associated with driving, and the harsh consequences which come with being a reckless driver. Thus, it is important for us to continuously remind ourselves of safe driving habits, and as individuals to have zero tolerance for dangerous driving.