Driving: A privilege not a right

“Approximately 1.35 million people die in road crashes each year; on average 3,700 people lose their lives every day on the roads”¹ (Association for Safe International Road Travel 2021, annual global road crash statistics). This shocking statistic gives us insight into just how dangerous the roads can be. Driving should not have to be feared and these accidents can be avoided. Driver education is increasingly important because of horrid statistics like the one above, and for good reason. Deaths related to driving are not only caused by distracted driving but other things like poor road infrastructure and inadequate post-crash care. Coming from personal experience, irresponsible driving paired with unsafe road conditions can easily take the lives of our friends, family, and those that are close to us. To solve this ever-growing issue, there are a few steps that can be taken to bring awareness to possible driving mishaps; The majority are more simple than you would think. They could be as easy as more street lights or increased traffic patrols to ensure safe driving. To lessen the amount of death caused by driving we as a whole must commit to improving infrastructure as well as make sure all those on the road are properly educated. Remember, driving is a privilege, not a right.

To begin, the first step in decreasing driving-related deaths or injuries has to be educating the people on the road. Without the population being properly educated there is an increased likelihood of accidents/injuries and traffic infractions. There is a reason most states require you to take a driver’s education class before you can get your license. For example, “The purpose of drivers education is to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for vehicle safety both as a driver and as a pedestrian”² (Drivers Ed, The How and Why). I took a full Drivers Ed course and I have had experiences where I know more street signs and more “rules of the road” compared to my friends who did not attend Drivers Ed. Although it can be a minuscule amount of information that they do not have, in some situations, it can mean the difference between life and death. One of those important facts that I learned was to keep a safe distance of 4 seconds between you and the car in front so you have a safe stopping distance in case something were to happen. When I was with my friend and I mentioned it, she questioned me as to why. I was surprised she did not know the reason and that was when I discovered the importance of Drivers Education and became grateful for what they had taught me. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), just 2 years ago the 16-20-year-old age group, the number of traffic fatalities was 2,667.³ There is no coincidence that the death rate is so high in that age group. Most kids start going to driver’s ed around the age of 15 and get their license at 16. This statistic accounts for the sheer inexperience that young drivers have which only stresses the importance of drivers Ed more. Driver’s education is the starting point to fewer deaths related to driving whether that is as a teen or as an adult, we have to start somewhere.

In addition, some steps can be taken in our communities to reduce driving-related deaths. These may include improving road infrastructure and post-crash care. For instance, the roads should have “adequate facilities for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Measures such as footpaths, cycling lanes, safe crossing points, and other traffic calming measures can be critical in reducing the risk of injury among these road users”⁴ (World Health Organization {WHO}, road traffic injuries). When the roads are safe for pedestrians and drivers that will be a solid next step in reducing driving-related deaths. How many times have you been on the road and not seen a bike lane or an unmarked crosswalk? I know from personal experience the few bike lanes that I see are either faded or inconsistent (along one side then it stops and comes back later down the road.) We have to improve our roads for the safety of everyone on them. Additionally, Another way to reduce the number of deaths accompanied by driving would be the aftercare in the event of an accident. The WHO suggests improving post-crash care by “ensuring access to timely prehospital care, and improving the quality of both prehospital and hospital care, such as through specialist training programmes”⁵ (World Health Organization {WHO}, road traffic injuries). After an accident occurs the care for injuries is extremely time-sensitive. A few extra minutes at the hospital or on the way there could mean life or death. To reduce the deaths that happen after accidents we have to improve the efficiency of aftercare, which is generally a group effort. The coordination between first responders, the hospital, as well as other drivers needs to be perfected to ensure the death rate decreases. The steps can be laid out and be crystal clear but change will not happen unless we as a whole work together to improve how our roadways work.

To continue, I have had my own experience with losing someone on the road because of irresponsible driving. One of my friends Christine was speeding at night with some of her friends and she was not wearing her seatbelt. She ended up taking a turn into a neighborhood and she did not know the road was a dead end. At the end of the road was a low cement barrier and she could not see because there were no street lights, unfortunately. What ended up happening was she hit the cement wall going way too fast and because she was not wearing her seatbelt she was thrown through the windshield. The 4 people in the car ended up needing to be airlifted to the hospital and she, unfortunately, did not make it. The people in her life who loved and cared about her lost a charismatic and funny person that night and it has made an impact on my life as well. From this situation, I have learned that A.) it could have been avoided and B.) everyone has an impact on the people in their lives whether they are cognizant of it or not. Christine’s situation was completely avoidable in many ways. Some of those include on her end: slowing down and respecting the laws put out to keep drivers safe, and on the public’s end: making sure streets are well lit so future problems do not occur. Irresponsible driving alongside bad infrastructure is a recipe for disaster. I do not want other people to have to go through something like Christine and those she was closest to did. To prevent future situations in that sense from happening I encourage you all to follow the rules put out to make sure we are safe as well as make suggestions to your local areas to improve infrastructure to ensure that safety.

Finally, there are some options for those around me as well as myself to ensure the safety of everyone on the road and to prevent any driving-related deaths. For example, to prevent road traffic injuries, “governments need to take action to address road safety in a holistic manner. This requires involvement from multiple sectors such as transport, police, health, education, and actions that address the safety of roads, vehicles, and road users”⁶ (World Health Organization {WHO}, road traffic injuries). The assistance from governments around the world to improve driving conditions should be a priority and it needs to be talked about more. Without the work from the top, not much can be done at the local level to drastically improve. Furthermore, there are also commitments I need to make to improve the safety on the roads. These might look like not speeding, calling out any issues I see in road infrastructure, and doing my part in helping those who are uneducated about the issues with safe driving become educated. The WHO has set a plan and given information about what should be done and so has my experience in drivers education. That should be all I need to make sure that I am in check on the road and to help others.

In conclusion, there are many ways to solve the issues we see on roads today in regards to driving-related deaths. Driver education is the first step in making that change. The more educated the people are on the roads, the lower the chances of death or injury. Deaths related to driving are not only caused by miseducation but other things like poor road infrastructure and inadequate post-crash care. The steps we can take to fix these issues include making more defined bike lanes for pedestrians as well as improving communication between first responders, hospitals, and other drivers. With my personal experience in a death related to driving I know how horrible it is to lose a friend and to see their family hurt. To solve this we can make sure our roads are well lit and keep our friends accountable to make sure they are driving safely. I will keep myself and those around me in check by making sure they have all of the information that organizations like the WHO have put out to help keep the population safe, and I would encourage you to do the same. To reduce driving-related deaths we have to work together to improve how our roadways function as well as educate the people to make sure our message is heard: Driving is a privilege, not a right.