For Noah

According to Forbes, In 2020, a total of 35,766 fatal car accidents occurred on roadways across the United States. Another 1,593,390 crashes resulted in injuries and 3,621,681 caused property damage. That means a total of 5,250,837 collisions happened over the course of a single year.

Those are some big numbers. When we look at big numbers, we tend to lose focus on the individuals that make up the collective, it’s human nature.

A number not so big is seven.

My baby cousin Noah Schweback at seven loved to sing. He would sing everywhere: the park, school, the doctors, the car etc. He sang everywhere and anytime. Except one morning on the way to church Noah failed to sing with his usual intangible glee.

His head was punctured. Body limp in my grandma’s arms. Not even a seatbelt could protect a skull that unproportionally large to an underdeveloped carcass. Older brothers Elijah and Quinton’s childhood are permanently altered. All by the incompetence of a driver. The memory of their baby brother was not the pure figure he always was in our family, but some figure they could not recognise– scarlet with blood, lifeless in expression and silent. An innocent mistake easily turned into an even more innocent life lost.

My aunt and uncle, both active military, see countless lives lost to wars overseas. And yet, domestically the number one killer of the lack of care of drivers, eradicated Noah in one fell swoop.

5 million other accidents likely have painted the same fate for an unimaginable amount of families. Me and my family have received condolences, prayers and hopeful wishes. And while the sentiment is appreciated, in truth, they mean nothing. The only prevention to another case like Noah’s is adequate education on safe driving.

In today’s fast-paced world, where vehicular transportation is ubiquitous, the importance of driver education in reducing fatalities resulting from driving cannot be overstated. The importance of seeing driving as not a right but a privilege. The duty of drivers to not see one another as a car in front of us, but another human life we owe the responsibility to be vigilant around. Someone’s cousin, grandchild, brother, or son.

Driver education serves as a cornerstone in fostering responsible driving behaviors and minimizing the risk of accidents. By imparting comprehensive knowledge of traffic laws, safe driving techniques, and risk awareness, driver education empowers individuals to make informed decisions behind the wheel. Moreover, it instills a sense of accountability and emphasizes the importance of adhering to regulations, thereby fostering a culture of safety on the roads and a collective confidence in our fellow drivers.

I personally began to drive at 16. I acquired my written permit and received driver’s ed classes in real life. It was of utmost importance to me to take a proactive role to becoming a safe driver. There have been countless accidents in my family and school due to unsafe driving practices. These experiences serve as poignant reminders of the potential consequences of reckless driving and underscore the need for proactive measures to enhance road safety.

Driver education plays a pivotal role in reducing road fatalities by equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate roads safely. By implementing comprehensive education programs, enforcing stricter licensing requirements, and raising public awareness about safe driving practices, we can work towards creating safer roads for everyone. Moreover, by taking personal responsibility, continuously improving our own driving habits, and advocating for road safety, we can contribute to saving lives and preventing needless tragedies on our roads.

In my time collecting information and recalling my cousin’s early demise for this essay, I’ve come to realize, even in myself, driving is often taken advantage of. A modern innovation makes our lives efficient at transporting us from point A to point B. And yet, we often speak about driving as a hassle. Traffic was terrible, another accident on the interstate, people really need to learn how to merge are some frequently used phrases we hear in our day to day.

When we complain about the minor inconveniences driving creates in our lives, I’d argue we paint driving as a habitual nuisance in our routines. Due to this ideological understanding, we forget that one mistake could easily end a life. We forget that while driving may be an annoyance we must never forget to view safe driving practices as significant. Something of that severity should be spoken about with the same level of severity.

Noah is one of millions. He is my reason to be a safe driver. He is the reason I will never put another family through the unimaginable pain my own went through. Although not everyone may have the privilege to have such a person, the likelihood of the average American getting into an accident is probable and the importance of widespread driving education, as a result, is essential.