Education to Effectiveness: Eradicating Impaired Driving

As I grip the wheel, anxious thoughts whirl through my head at a pace that threatens to unravel me like a ball of yarn. A practically empty road greets me as I approach the intersection, but in my mind, obstacles reach out from behind every corner. The car beneath me comes to a stop, matching the rhythm of my churning stomach. I glance up at the blinking yellow arrow hovering above, and it flashes like a horrible omen in my mind. My nails dig into the steering wheel. The intersection is clear, but my will lacks the power to guide the vehicle over the white line. I am frozen in place, unmoving.

Understanding the depth of sorrow that comes from being at fault for another person’s loss of life is impossible until one experiences it. In our bruised world, 20% of teenagers will experience the loss of a loved one before turning 18 (“Experiencing Grief as a Teenager”). A countless number of those deaths are due to drunk and distracted driving, which are life altering accidents and yet also completely avoidable. I remember receiving news that my brother had been involved in a serious car accident. The knowledge was paralyzing and frightening. The accident that could have taken my brother’s life was not due to drunk driving. In fact, it occurred because of a simple mistake in judgement, which proves that even the most vigilant teen drivers can experience regret over decisions made in a car. I have wished to go back and prevent my brother’s accident several times. While I cannot change the past, I know our society can make the future better by realizing that the dire consequences of drunk and distracted driving are not irrelevant, but are in fact a thief of human life and happiness. Instead of contributing to the problem, I believe that teen drivers have a unique ability to become the solution.

Becoming the solution to drunk and distracted driving begins with education. As Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Surprisingly, Driver Education is not required in all U.S. states, though 37 states do enforce some form of education before teens may earn a learner’s permit or license. In order to appreciate the importance of Driver’s Ed, one must realize that the course is not merely a formality. Course preparation for new, inexperienced drivers requires teens not only to recognize and obey the rules of the road, but be introduced to the common misuses of the right to drive. In my home state of North Carolina, “Fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers in North Carolina declined 57% after the implementation of the GDL [Graduated Driver Licensing] program in 1997” (Foss, Feaganes, and Rodgman, 2001). By the simple introduction of education to inform new drivers about the responsibility of driving, the number of deaths decreased dramatically. Imagine the effects of requiring Driver’s Education in all fifty states. The result would be substantial, and countless more lives of fathers, mothers, and siblings would not be stolen by irresponsibility.

According to a law firm, “39% of high school students surveyed admitted to texting or emailing while driving”. That percentage of distracted teenagers leads to millions of needless crashes like the one my brother experienced over a year ago. Driving under the influence of a screen is as serious an issue as driving under the influence of alcohol and can result in the same disastrous effects. Teens have experienced more than any other generation the growing normalcy of cell phone usage and dependency. The general public, especially young drivers, must consider if he or she would readily exchange a cell phone in order to bring back a loved one. By abstaining from distracted and drunk driving, each of us may succeed in giving that gift to someone else.

If I had the opportunity to eradicate drunk driving in our society, I would first require restaurants and bars by law to have a waiver for their customers to sign agreeing to pay for an Uber service or otherwise refrain from driving after ordering alcoholic drinks. I think that accountability from institutions should be not only expected but also required to keep drivers from committing a deed they will later regret. I think the punishment for teens convicted of DUI should be a ten year prison sentence and immediate revocation of license. The prospect of punishment needs to match the harsh reality of taking someone’s life as a result of one’s poor judgement. Before choosing to drive while intoxicated, we must ask ourselves, is that action worth the life of a loved one?

As convenient methods of living are championed, keeping one’s attention undivided while driving is dismissed as unimportant, especially by young people. To prioritize the safety of everyone on the road and prevent distracted driving, drivers should seek to minimize the influence of screens. Though drunk driving is not easy to eradicate, it is possible to make it less prevalent by committing to prevent it beforehand. Distracted driving can be reduced by turning off notifications, employing the phone setting that delays non-emergency text messages, and using a phone mount as opposed to holding a device. These prevention methods would be even more effective if a phone mount was a required feature in all vehicles. Young people can influence others to refrain from screens by holding their friends accountable and not texting with those they know are behind the wheel. We can raise funds and start organizations that send speakers to schools to remind the next generation of drivers about their responsibility to promote safety on the road. When loss of life is due to something as insignificant as a text message, the reality is devastating. In order to lower the shocking percentage of distracted driving accidents, our society must commit to educating the public about the dangers of texting while driving and keep ourselves and our peers accountable to refrain from it.

I believe that Nelson Mandela was correct in his statement concerning the power of education, and by applying his wisdom, drunk driving can be greatly reduced in college communities. College students experience a unique responsibility to use their influence to encourage their peers to refrain from drunk driving. One way that college students specifically can emphasize accountability and prevent drunk driving is by creating a club that designates and rotates drivers within small groups so that a sober driver is always available. By collaborating with the college and offering incentives for those abstaining and preventing drunk driving, the members of such a club can make a positive difference in their community. Club organizers can invite those who have been victims of drunk driving or experienced loss due to its effects to be interviewed or speak at a college-wide assembly on a regular basis and compile presentations to raise awareness about devastating consequences of drunk driving. To encourage attendance by the student body, reward credit at the student union merchandise store would be offered by the college for initially joining the club and then for every presentation or fundraising event attended and continuing level of participation. Ideally, clubs like these would act like accountability groups among students. The results would be students challenging and encouraging one another to promote safety, listening to the testimonies of victims, and participating in community events, all while receiving free merchandise. In small yet impactful ways, we have the ability to create solutions to drunk and distracted driving. Our efforts may prevent another teen from identifying with the 20% of young people that struggle through an avoidable loss.

Though most trends are often more harmful than helpful, trends are not inherently evil. Perhaps it is time to begin a new trend. By sharing the stories of those affected by drunk driving in our spheres of influence through club involvement and incentives, bringing young people’s attention to the extent of the issue is possible. We can raise funds and start organizations that send speakers to colleges and other schools to remind even the next generation of drivers about their responsibility to promote safety on the road. I can be a part of the positive change by writing essays like this one to share the message. I can remind my friends and others in my sphere of influence about their responsibility on the road before entering a car. I remember the feeling of pure terror I experienced when behind the wheel for the first time. While I hope to drive with a calm and collected attitude, I believe maintaining a measure of healthy fear and respect while driving is important. I can prevent myself from driving distracted or frantic by allotting enough time to reach my destination, planning ahead, and being sure to get sufficient sleep before driving. Though I cannot change other drivers’ actions, I am able to commit myself to driving responsibly as a good example and aiding the spread of distracted and drunk driving awareness. As Mother Teresa once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

As I finally rotate the wheel and coast over to my neighborhood’s entrance, I sigh with relief. Though the memory of the accident that almost took my brother’s life still haunts this place, I have confidence that my efforts to be a responsible driver are not in vain. I am creating ripples that will change the world.