The Importance of Driver Education in Reducing Deaths from Driving

In less than a year, a person’s whole outlook on life can change. I know because mine did in just five months. I got my provisional license in December of my senior year of high school, December 2022, which meant only 4.96 months before I could legally drive—aka 21.57 weeks, or 151 days. I did the math. I was more than excited; I was ecstatic, more than ready. Or so I thought.

For the next couple of months, I received request after request to pick up, drop off, or drive friends to or from their destinations. As the school’s star track runner who had just won regionals, I felt pressured to say “Yeah, of course” in front of the team when one of the younger guys asked for a ride or “hop in” when leaving school after practice. It was hard to say no. However, only three months into my driving ability, I breached the contract I signed when I received my provisional license:

“RESTRICTIONS: ‘Provisional license holders under the age of 18 may not drive with passengers under the age of 18, other than immediate family members, for the first 151 days, without a qualified supervising driver.’”

That was what the contract said, but as a new teenage driver, I didn’t see the why behind the no; I just wanted the shiny card and the clout that came with it. It first started with my best friend, who told me his parents couldn’t take him to school one morning and begged me to take him. Despite knowing the rules, he became almost desperate, and I broke. “Fine, I’m coming.” It took ten minutes to get to his house and five minutes to forget every driving precaution I had ever learned.

When driving with friends, it becomes a lot easier to drive relaxed and carefree because you’re naturally relaxed and carefree around them. On the way there, even at 8:30 in the morning, we played music loudly with the windows down. This continued every day, and like an unsuspecting virus, it spread. I started picking up more friends, driving like nobody’s business. I trusted my skills enough to drive with one hand, play around with my friends in the back, go hands-free when we were feeling the music, and speed when it was just me and the guys at 12 am. It’s weird how we never got into an accident then, but little did I know I was building up bad habits.

Fast forward two months, a week before the Championship Sprint. Championship Sprint is where County championships, Regional championships, and State championships occur all within four weeks. There were four of us in the car initially; I had just dropped off a friend at his house and was getting ready to continue playing Uber. We were joking around as I made the right turn onto the interstate; the next thing I knew, life flashed before my eyes. “ISRAELLL!!!” was all I heard from my friend, followed by the loudest honk of my life. I quickly slammed the brakes and saw the faces of everyone in the minivan I almost hit.

I pulled over to the side and screamed. I didn’t know who I was screaming at, and I didn’t know what I was saying, but the fear of almost dying and the fear of almost killing overwhelmed me, and I let it out. The rest of the drive for my two friends was silent. I later texted them, apologizing for putting them in that situation and for screaming afterward. It was my responsibility; I was the driver, and I failed them and myself. That moment played again and again in my head. One thing I remembered was the car would have hit my driver’s side first; even if I didn’t die, I would never have been able to run again.

I realized that I needed to change something; I needed a reset. I found resources online about how to drive safely with friends in the car. I watched YouTube videos and heard testimonies of parents and teenagers who lost loved ones and decided in my heart I could not let that happen to me, my friends, or my family. I realized I had to put a foot down and replace selfishness with selflessness. I told my friends I would not be able to drive them any longer; I had a couple of weeks left on my contract anyway.

But when the day came where I was legally free, I worked with my mom to set rules for friends in the car, rules that my friends respected and we all followed. It’s been a year and a half, and no accidents. I hope to keep it that way. I had a habit that almost killed me, my friends, and an entire family. And that habit was being distracted by friends in the car. I advise all new drivers to do what I did after that experience: set rules for yourself and your friends. You will realize that you might just be saving your life and many others.

Driver education plays a crucial role in reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. It helps new drivers understand the gravity of the responsibility they are taking on and equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to make safe choices on the road. However, education alone is not enough. Continuous reinforcement of safe driving habits and adherence to driving laws are essential in ensuring long-term safety.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, several steps can be taken:

1. Enhanced Driver Education: Incorporate more realistic scenarios and testimonials into driver education programs to highlight the serious consequences of negligent driving.

2. Stricter Enforcement of Driving Laws: Ensure that laws related to provisional licenses and other driving restrictions are strictly enforced.

3. Parental Involvement: Encourage parents to set and enforce rules for their teenage drivers.

4. Public Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns that target both new and experienced drivers, emphasizing the importance of safe driving practices.

In conclusion, driver education is vital in reducing the number of deaths caused by driving. My experience has shown me the importance of adhering to driving laws and setting personal boundaries to ensure safety. By taking proactive steps and educating others, we can all contribute to making the roads safer for everyone.

P.S. I went on to place 3rd at Counties, 1st in two events at Regionals, and 2nd at States.