Setting the Pace: The Role of Driver Education in Reducing Driving-Related Deaths

In my short lifetime of seventeen years, I have been in two car accidents. The first accident involved the other party being distracted while eating, and the second involved the other driver attempting to park in a spot their truck could not fit into. Though neither resulted in serious injury for either party, both accidents were easily avoidable and caused by driver recklessness. Additionally, though I was young when these accidents occurred, the unexpected nature of these collisions made me notice that driving can trigger danger and a sudden change in plans after personally experiencing the aftereffects of a crash.

The practice of vehicle safety is fundamental to driver education. It is vital in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving, and is supplemented by the knowledge and obedience of traffic laws. Vehicle safety involves factors both inside and outside of the driver’s car. The driver can practice vehicle safety inside the car by being aware of the car’s functions and its handlings. If the driver understands the basic operation of their vehicle, they can maneuver their car better in different scenarios, including life-threatening ones. Vehicle safety can be further practiced when the driver considers independent variables such as the weather and pedestrians. If drivers account for uncertain factors in their surrounding areas and continue to follow the rules of the road, it can lead to a decline in car-related fatalities.

The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths all circle back to increasing driver awareness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 400 annual fatal crashes are caused by texting and driving. My home state of Georgia has enacted the Hands-Free Law, which penalizes drivers for texting and driving. The Hands-Free Law currently fines lawbreakers $50 and one point on their license for their first offense, $100 and two points on their license for their second, and $150 and three points on their license for their third. In order to reduce the number of deaths related to cell phone usage while driving, states need to enforce harsher rules when it comes to texting and driving, such as giving more license points per offense or license suspensions if a driver has been stopped multiple times for texting and driving.

The refusal of drivers to abide by stop signs and lights has also led to driving-related deaths. According to NBC News, which analyzed an investigation of crash statistics by the American Automobile Association (AAA), red light running led to 939 deaths in 2017. The AAA also concluded that on average, 2 deaths occur daily due to drivers who neglect to stop for signals. Though the justice system determines the fate of drivers who cause fatal crashes, more measures can be taken to reduce these statistics of car deaths. States can institute more cameras in the vicinity of stop lights and traffic signs. If lawbreakers are ticketed for more minor offenses that do not involve car accidents or fatalities, they may be more cautious while driving, and refrain from running through stop lights and signs.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), speeding, in some fashion, caused the deaths of almost 9,500 people in 2019. A way for everyday citizens to help reduce the number of fatalities related to speeding is to comply with traffic laws within their communities. The easiest way for drivers to do this is to lead by example. If a driver maintains their speed within the limit, other drivers around them may be inclined or, in some instances depending on road width, forced to do the same. Another way is to post signs along the street that may prompt drivers to monitor their speeds. Finally, community members can request safety interventions that would help to regulate drivers’ speeds and increase safety, such as more speed bumps, bike lanes, traffic lights, and stop signs.

The aforementioned rules can help me become a better and safer driver. I can be more aware of my surroundings and make sure I follow stop signs and speed limits, no matter how many cars are on the road. Additionally, I can ensure that, while I am driving, I am solely focused on the road and reaching my destination safely. I can recommend these proposals to my peers in order to create a new cohort of safer drivers. Since my peers and I have just begun getting our permits and licenses, I can help them to become better drivers by encouraging them to focus while driving and by advocating against cell phone use, eating, and other distractions while driving.