Get into the Drivers Seat

As a junior, I was a participant and actor in my school’s Every 15 Minute program. The program is a two-day process focusing on high school juniors and seniors that challenges them to think about personal safety while driving, the responsibility of making mature choices, and the impact their decisions have on everyone around them. My role was the “living dead”. I was pulled out of class after a police officer read my obituary aloud and I was directed to prep for the assembly. The assembly included a reenactment of a dramatic car crash and the backstory of a student who made the decision to drive drunk, despite knowing the consequences. Following the emotional show, all the “living dead” were bussed to a hotel, so the impact of us not being at school reinforces the message. The purpose of the program is to create an awareness among students that they are not invincible and to have them experience firsthand how their actions affect the lives of so many other people. Participating in this program as an actor and advocate truly opened my eyes to the results of reckless driving. The whole experience was very emotional because I was exposed to more statistics and horror stories when I returned to the hotel.

I believe that driver education plays a crucial role in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving because it engraves the risks in teens’ young minds. Driver education helps reinforce knowledge of traffic laws, safe driving practices, and hazard awareness. Driver education programs teach individuals about traffic laws and regulations, ensuring that young drivers understand the rules of the road. By instilling safe habits early on, young drivers are better equipped to avoid risky behaviors that can lead to deadly accidents. Further, driver education teaches individuals to identify potential hazards on the road, such as pedestrians, cyclists, and unfavorable weather conditions. By being aware of these threats, drivers can take proactive measures to avoid accidents and protect themselves and others. All these measures help students understand the consequences of reckless driving. Driver education emphasizes the serious consequences of careless driving that may result in injury and death. This encourages drivers to be more inclined to prioritize safety and exercise caution on the road. Overall, driver education plays a vital role in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving by equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to drive safely and responsibly.

I feel we can go further than just driver education in our communities. Reducing the number of deaths related to driving requires a thorough approach involving various strategies. Many deaths on the road are caused by road conditions and infrastructure. By investing in infrastructure we can improve the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. Some suggestions I have would be to create clearer signage, more apparent road markings, efficient lighting, and well-marked pedestrian crossings. These simple fixes can enhance safety for all road users and reduce the likelihood of accidents. Additionally, people can start education and awareness campaigns to educate drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists about road safety. This would bring more awareness to the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of following traffic laws to encourage safer behaviors. These campaigns can also promote alternative transportation such as public transit, biking, and walking to decrease the likelihood of accidents and improve air quality. Finally, campaign groups can raise funding for problems they would like to prioritize. Personally, I would like to raise money to strengthen emergency response systems which would ensure timely access to medical care. This can improve outcomes for those involved in accidents and reduce the number of fatalities. Engaging communities in road safety initiatives can promote a culture of safety and encourage collaborative action to address road safety challenges. By implementing these steps, we can gain the attention of policymakers, law enforcement agencies, transportation authorities, and other stakeholders who have the power to create change to reduce the number of deaths related to driving and create safer road environments for everyone.

The topic of safe driving has always been close to my heart because both of my parents work in car insurance claims, and I get to see the tragedies that happen every day. Through the eyes of insurance, I am exposed to not only the emotional distraught families face, but also the financial effects. My parents work extremely hard, and I was especially lucky to get a car once I became licensed. I always do my best to drive safely because I could never live down the burden of placing car repairs on them. The risk of losing a child is scary enough, but I would feel awful taking the opportunity away from my family by asking them to fix the damage I caused.

It is time to take action on the crisis that affects millions of Americans. Whether it is figuratively or literally, we must get into the driver’s seat and get control of the wheel before this tragedy progresses.