The Drivers Seat

Driving a car is a privilege that carries an immense responsibility. Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to preventable traffic fatalities. It is swiftly becoming a common sight to see cars on the side of the road that have been severely damaged from irresponsible driving and car crashes. Furthermore, around 77% of drivers in the United States of America have reported being in a traffic accident at least once in their life, and a little over one in a hundred people have a chance of being killed in an accident. These accidents can scale from a minor bump to a car being completely totaled and killing the people inside the car.

Passengers observe and mimic irresponsible driving tendencies, usually from a family member or friend. Many times, people assume it’s very minor things, like speeding up at a yellow light or turning sharply to avoid waiting at a red light. However, these little mistakes that may seem like water under the bridge can morph into dangerous driving habits, such as speeding and taking unsafe shortcuts and uncalculated risks while driving. Driver education plays a crucial role in producing safe and responsible drivers, while also playing an active part in reducing the number of accidents and casualties that occur on the road. There are numerous ways to work towards this goal, such as creating mandatory drivers education courses in schools, programs to address and rehabilitate high-risk drivers, and enacting stricter laws regarding intoxicated/impaired driving, speeding, and phone use while behind the wheel.

This is something that I have personally experienced myself through my father who was involved in dangerous accidents due to the reckless driving of others. These accidents not only significantly damaged the car, but also left him with a life of chronic pain which limits his ability to carry out daily activities. This has affected my family’s lives in many ways, making normal activities difficult and limiting. His back pain flare ups that leave him bedridden for days are a reminder that all this could have been easily avoided.

One way to work towards reducing the number of injuries and deaths while driving is by improving driving education programs and making these programs mandatory school courses. These programs would include step-by-step instruction on what to do during traffic emergencies. It is a known fact that many accidents are caused because of panic and a lack of control. The goal of these courses is to teach young drivers alternate solutions and preparation. Not only would this educate drivers from a young age on the dangers of driving distracted, impaired, or aggressively (the leading causes of traffic fatalities), but would also provide defensive driving techniques, hazard perception, and proper vehicle handling and maintenance. Refresher courses should also be implemented for people of all ages to remind drivers of the hazards of driving. This would also lay the foundation for quality time to ask important, educating questions in regards to safe road habits, leading to more observative and alert drivers.

Another way to improve the quality of driving is through the address and rehabilitation of high-risk drivers. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through defensive driving courses, increased use of interlock programs, and frequent driver assessments on previously high-risk drivers. Defensive driving courses are similar to that of introductory driving courses. However, these courses go beyond a basic drivers’ education and focus on teaching advanced defensive driving techniques. Attending a defensive driving course is a mandatory experience for drivers who have been cited for traffic violations or have been directly involved in crashes. If these courses become a requirement for risky drivers, it could save a lot of time, money, and lives. Another way to expand on this is by putting rehabilitation programs into place. This would include assessments and on-road evaluations of a risk-driver’s abilities to safely drive a car. The training focuses on allowing risky drivers to develop compensatory strategies and improving skills to operate vehicles safely. Lastly, is the requirement for ignition interlock programs. These are devices that are installed into the vehicles of drivers who have been convicted of driving under the influence, whether that be drugs or alcohol. The device requires the driver to provide a breath sample with a low alcohol content in order for the car to start. This form of technology has been proven to rapidly reduce repeated drunk driving incidents. The ultimate goal is to make these systems one hundred percent mandatory with the intention of reducing the very high number of traffic fatalities that occur every year as a result of impaired and/or aggressive driving.

Segwaying into the final method of reducing vehicle fatalities: much stricter driving laws. While it may seem like an overly simple suggestion, by intensely focusing on driving laws, it gives many drivers an incentive to drive safely. Enacting and strictly enforcing laws against dangerous behaviors like speeding, texting and driving, and drunk driving is an effective way to deter these risky behaviors. In addition to this, increasing the use of automated enforcement technologies like speed cameras, red-light cameras, and speed monitors can improve compliance and reduce violations without the need for constant human intervention. Nobody wants to be in trouble with the law, and often fear is a very great motivator for many people. By truly cracking down on poor driving habits, it is a step in the direction of making the roads safer, especially for unaware drivers who are actually following the law.

Ultimately, no person is perfect, including myself. A personal goal that I have is to remain a responsible driver. This includes not speeding, always making sure that I am driving within my bounds, never looking at my phone or any other distractions while actively driving, and always taking the necessary precautions to keep myself and others safe while I am behind the wheel. I have personally seen how reckless driving can affect others, and will do my part toward the communal goal of reducing dangerous driving. If we all do this, then the roads will be safer for everyone.