In The Driver’s Seat

Driving is something we do everyday, but is also one of the most dangerous things we do. A state trooper taught me that when I was involved in a car crash over a year ago. Needless to say, it was the most terrifying experience I have ever had while in the driver’s seat. After that, I witnessed one of my coworkers drive under the influence, and thankfully they weren’t harmed! Today, almost everyone drives and it’s considered a need in most places in America. The importance of driver’s education and safety has been overlooked by how common driving has become. As a society, it is important that we take action in making the roads a safer place.

After the car crash, my parents enrolled me in a local driving school in the city we live in. The curriculum involved road signs, lights, and how to handle different situations while behind the wheel. Everything they taught confirmed what the state trooper had said to me. Driver’s education is important in reducing the number of deaths due to driving simply because drivers would know more. People would know how to get out of dangerous situations and be more mindful of other drivers. One of the teachers at the driving school had mentioned that most crashes are caused by drivers not being mindful of others on the road. There were even some rules of the road that I learned in class that my family hadn’t taught me! If that was the case for one young girl, that’s probably the case for many other people, too.

One of the steps we could take to reduce the number of deaths while driving is to provide more education opportunities. High schools offer driver’s education courses, but they are too expensive for most families and are also not a required course. If it was a required course and was less expensive, every high schooler would learn about how to drive safely. DMVs could also implement outreach events where they make safety fun and get the community involved! It could be a way to raise awareness without charging people money or presenting it like a monotonous lecture.

Most teenagers and young adults also end up with less safe vehicles to drive. Most families either can’t afford, or aren’t willing to pay for a vehicle with more safety features. Why pay a fortune for a car they won’t have long? Older cars have less safety features, or in some cases, are even missing parts that make the car safe. For example, what if a family can only afford to buy their teen a run-down car that’s missing a mirror or a signal light? That car is less safe than one with both of those missing parts. If safer vehicles were more accessible, there would more than likely be less deaths due to driving.

There also needs to be more awareness about driving under the influence. The consequences of this crime are intense, but that doesn’t keep people from doing it. In fact, many people do it over and over again without getting caught. Over time, they think it’s harmless and that it can’t do any real harm. Too many people lose their own lives, or loved ones to accidents involving DUIs every year. In fact, a DUI doesn’t even have to be caused by alcohol! Marijuana and even too much prescription medication can cloud your judgment while behind the wheel. There was even a study conducted that proved even medicinal marijuana can cause so much impairment, that it’s considered dangerous to drive. Unfortunately, this is important and life-saving information that not everyone is aware of.

To make the roads a safer place, there also needs to be individual efforts from our communities and cities. The simplest way to make the roads safer is simply keeping your car taken care of. Taking care of the car can prevent any technical problems that could cause crashes with other drivers. For example, if a tire explodes because the air pressure wasn’t right, that could easily put other drivers in danger. Making sure everyone in the vehicle has their seatbelt on properly makes the trip safer. Whenever you drive, making sure you’re well rested and undistracted eliminates the risk of running red lights or drifting into the wrong lane. Beyond personal efforts, taking the time to inform our friends and family can also make a difference.

Ultimately, this has to become a group effort. The roads will only become safer if we all agree to do our part. With the right resources, we can all work together to make driving safer.