Drunk Driving

Carelessness
and ignorance are the main culprits of vehicle related deaths. I
believe that the best way to reduce the mortality rates related to
driving is to educate the driver as much as possible. Drivers
education is extremely important in reducing the dangers on the road
due to the importance of understanding how to drive responsibly. A
study conducted by the University of Nebraska followed more than a
hundred and fifty thousand teen drivers over eight years and found
that young drivers who have not completed drivers ed are
twenty four percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury
accident. It is without a doubt that drivers ed is crucial in
reducing the number of deaths related to motor vehicle accidents
because it provides
drivers with the knowledge and skills needed for vehicle safety.

According
to the Center for Disease Control, every
day, twenty nine people
in the United States die
in motor vehicle crashes that involve an intoxicated driver.
This means that every fifty minutes, one person dies as a result. To
solve this issue, preventative measures can offer a solution. I
propose a required alcohol education class before being able to
obtain a driver’s license. Education is the best preventative
measure for this issue. If we could properly inform drivers about the
statistics, consequences, and risks of drunk driving, I believe that
the numbers of fatal accidents as a cause of intoxication would
decrease.
Although current drivers ed classes are undoubtedly important,
it is simply not enough to attend drivers ed for one month and
vaguely learn about the laws and regulations. It is crucial to gather
a thorough understanding of the consequences and risks involved in
drunk driving. Drivers need to understand that not only are you
putting your life at risk, but also those of neighboring vehicles.

Thankfully,
I have never been in a car accident, but as a teenager, I have seen
people that I go to school with act irresponsibly behind the wheel.
Because of the teen “party culture,” drunk driving is a prevalent
issue amongst my community. This is because many of them are unaware
of the consequences and proceed to drive in ignorance. These
teenagers are current proof that there needs to be an enforcement in
the education requirements needed to obtain a drivers license.
Personally, I believe that in order to be a safer driver, I must
first be conscious of others on the road. I must remember that by
driving irresponsibly, I am putting others life’s at risk, and that
is not a light weight to carry. Becoming educated is the best advice
I could offer to others, so they can be safe on the roads, as well.