Driver Education and Safety

Turning 16 and getting your license is a step toward being an adult that I and so many others looked forward to. The freedom to drive wherever, and whenever is liberating, but with this freedom comes responsibility. Speeding may feel fun and it seems like you have control over the car, but the reason the speed limit is set is because there have been numerous others who thought they had control and did not. Have you ever taken a turn off a freeway and noticed all the places others have dented or damaged the side rails? What happened to them? Most accidents that occur are due not to failure of your car’s engine, breaks, or running out of gas, but due to speeding or misjudging your ability to control the vehicle. In my driver’s ed course, the videos shown were somewhat gruesome but solidified the importance of not drinking under the influence, texting while driving, and trying to follow posted speed limits.

Careless driving is one of the most dangerous acts someone can do as it not only puts the driver in danger, but also any passengers and other people’s cars nearby in danger. Drivers aged 16 to 18 are more likely to be involved in car accidents than anyone else. As a new driver myself, I have learned the hard way that driver safety is important, and paying attention to the road, wearing seat belts, and limiting distractions could save lives.

The main causes of car accidents are due to distractions, speed, and drowsiness. These can be reduced by following the speed limits as they are set in place to keep drivers and passengers safe. Similarly, limiting distractions is essential in reducing car accidents and can be accomplished by having the passenger, if any, give directions and control the music. If there is no passenger, it is safest and most efficient to set up the directions before driving and turning on Do Not Disturb. Due to the majority of driving-related accidents being caused by teenagers, the importance of educating them on the dangers of driving under any of the previously mentioned conditions – distractions, speed, and drowsiness – would prevent injuries and death.

In October of 2023, I was in a car accident due to phone distractions and I sincerely believe that had the phone been out of sight and mind, the accident could have been avoided. This was a terrifying event and I hope to educate others about the dangers of texting and driving. I remember hearing about people getting in accidents before I got in an accident myself, but for some reason, I believed that it would never happen to me. No one is invincible so it is imperative to respect yourself and other drivers by limiting distractions. Fortunately, it was a minor accident and no one was injured, and I fully believe this is due to seatbelts.

Seatbelts are yet another, very crucial, step in reducing driving-related deaths. Had I not been seatbelted during that accident I or the other driver could have suffered injuries, and had it been a worse crash, death could have been a genuine possibility. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about half of car accident-related deaths could have been avoided by wearing seatbelts. In 2023, nearly 20,000 people have died due to car accidents across the US. Unfortunately, about 10,000 of these people could still be alive had they worn their seatbelt.

Another way that one can become a safer driver is by taking online courses for safe driving. I initially did this to reduce the cost of my insurance, however, I learned a lot more than I thought I would. For example, defensive driving is one way to ensure that you and other people on the road can avoid getting in accidents. Defensive driving consists of being aware of your surroundings, limiting distractions, and remaining at or slightly below the speed limit. I encourage others to take defensive driving courses, especially teenagers, as our insurance prices are very high, which both lowers them and educates us. If taking a course is too time-consuming, simply follow the speed laws set in place, wear a seatbelt, and keep your eyes on the road as these can significantly reduce the chances of crashing and driving-related death. It is important to remember that driving is a dangerous activity and can result in serious consequences if basic driver etiquette is ignored.

Driver education is imperative as it prevents driving-related injuries and fatalities. Careless driving not only endangers the driver but the passengers and others on the road. The astonishing number of accidents relating to 16 to 18-year-old drivers underscores the need for driver safety education. It was fortunate that I and the other driver involved were both wearing our seatbelts during the accident as they assisted in avoiding potential injuries. Although seatbelts cannot prevent all driving-related injuries and deaths, wearing them while being educated on driver safety would significantly reduce the number of car accidents, further reducing the number and severity of injuries.