The Importance of Safe, Educated Driving

“Well statistically the drive to the airport was significantly more dangerous than the flight you’re about to board.” Is a quote my dad told me to try to settle my nerves before my first flight on a plane. In reality this quote just ignited my curiosity into the risks and dangers of transportation. While doing more research I was able to find that not only was driving the most dangerous form of transportation, but that it wasn’t really close either. The scary fact is many people drive recklessly and take their license for granted. Having your license is a privilege and should be treated as such. Too many people have lost their lives in preventable accidents on the road, and many more will continue to unless drastic changes occur.

When looking through the statistics on the DMV website, I was shocked to read that more people have lost their lives on the road in a year than lost their lives in wars. What’s even worse is the fact that many of these accidents are results of speeding, reckless driving, and various forms of impairment, whether it be with a substance or a phone. One must ask the question, “If so many people are dying due to speeding and reckless driving, why do people still speed and drive recklessly?” I interviewed a few of my teenage friends who have either sped or driven irresponsibly in the past and here’s what they had to say: “It’s a fun adrenaline rush.” Or “It’s okay because ultimately I’m a good driver.” Both of these answers are flawed and can be easily contradicted with simple questions such as: “Would your parents approve of you driving like this?” Or “What if you lost control and hit another vehicle?” It’s strange how quickly they’ll change their minds when they realize there could be serious consequences for their actions. The problem is that many teenagers feel as though they are invincible when they are young or that nobody else is affected by their actions, even though this is very false.

Another important issue to address is the education these young drivers are receiving on their way to getting their license. I learned a lot from my drivers’ education class but as I’ve matured, I have also noticed changes that should be made to it. At many points in the class we focused too much on driving itself and didn’t talk about the importance of safe driving and not being impaired while behind the wheel. Many of the car safety videos were very outdated and often didn’t come across with the clear points that needed to be stated. To address the issue of safe driving at the source, updating safe driving videos and informing drivers’ education teachers of the new videos is a good starting point. If kids are immediately made aware of the dangers and consequences of reckless driving, they are much less likely to drive recklessly. Parents should also take initiative in the issue of safe driving. Remind your kids of the dangers of driving over the speed limit and driving while impaired. Also, if your child is at a party or any event where they may have consumed alcohol, don’t allow them to have their keys. Explain the importance of a designated driver and how under no circumstances should you ever drive while under the influence. All of these factors can help prevent reckless and impaired driving by eliminating the threat at the source.

In my life I have experienced the dangers of unsafe driving. My uncle was a victim of a hit and run executed by somebody driving under the influence. Although his car was totaled, thankfully my uncle was okay. My grandmother experienced hearing loss after she was hit by a van that ran through a red light. Despite these events being very unfortunate, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We can work to educate young people on the importance of safe driving and help set up good driving habits. I am a strong believer that to become a better, safer driver you first must identify and fix your flaws. If you tend to speed, leave home a little earlier in the morning so you don’t feel rushed at all. If you go out and party often, always get an Uber or find a designated driver so you never risk driving while under the influence. Although they seem like small steps at first, when many people start forming safer driving habits, we can save thousands of lives.