The “War” of the Road (1913-Now)

Sam Hogg

November 3, 2020

In The Driver’s Seat

If the annual U.S. Highway Fatalities were added into the chart of wars ranked by U.S. combat deaths, they would rank 5th or 6th each year, which is the equivalent of having a Korean War every year, only including U.S. deaths of course. So, if we are to address these fatalities and keep everyone safe, we need to treat new drivers the same way we would the military, with extensive training and education. Learning how to drive from watching your parents, playing video games, or watching movies, is not enough to keep that driver and everyone else on or near the road safe. The option to take drivers ed after one is 18 years of age should not be a choice, it’s like throwing someone who is over the age of 25 into combat without training, their likeness to get killed skyrockets. To keep everyone on the road safe and alive, there needs to be more emphasis and requirements for taking drivers ed, no matter the age or experience.

In many European countries, getting a driver’s license is incredibly difficult and takes a long time to get. They have very difficult written and road tests that ensure the driver is properly trained to be on the road and are safe to others, and the numbers in the EU are nearly half that of the US. Many may think drivers ed is monotonous and that it only teaches you things such as, “go the speed limit”, “do a full stop at a stop sign”, or “don’t text and drive”. But many things are truly helpful and necessary for being a safe driver, such as how to adjust your mirrors, where to look on the road for pedestrians, other cars, or even how to not get blinded by other headlights at night. Many very important things are taught in drivers ed, which is why it should be a requirement for getting a driver’s license. I learned some very important skills that if I had not learned could put me in very dangerous situations. I learned that at certain speeds in wet weather your car can hydroplane and you lose all control over the steering and braking. I also learned patterns and places to look for pedestrians and where cars might pull out from, and there have been times where I have found this skill being used and has helped me not get into an accident. I have never been into an accident, probably because I am constantly using the skills and knowledge I gained from taking drivers ed, but when I see crashes on tv or the aftermath of crashes on the road, I genuinely have a sense of fear never want to experience such an awful thing, especially if it is my fault and I put others in harm’s way.

To be a safe driver you must always wear a seatbelt, make sure your mirrors are adjusted so that you can see behind you and your blindspot, you must never drive under the influence of marijuana or alcohol, you must always make sure you are calm and in a good head space where you will not get angry at other drivers, and always keep your eyes on the road and never text and drive or have any other distractions that hinder your ability to see what is around you. For me to be a safer driver I need to slow down on highways, especially in poor weather conditions, and also make sure I am using my blinkers even when I think no one is around. Drivers ed is a key part of reducing the number of fatalities each year and should be a requirement for getting a driver’s license no matter the age.