The Importance of Driver Education and Reducing Driver Deaths

Driving is a privilege, not a right. Unfortunately, many drivers take that privilege for granted, and not just new drivers either. Drivers of all ages and experience levels make mistakes when driving, and as a result, more and more people are losing their lives due to mistakes on the road. Thankfully, there are a few ways to make the roads safer and reduce the number of fatal accidents, or even accidents in general. The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving are to stay educated, avoid technology when driving, and always drive sober.

The first way to reduce the number of traffic deaths is to be an educated and smart driver. As times change, so does the road. Traffic laws are being added or changed often, the road system is evolving, and new methods and tricks while driving are being discovered. For example, the way I learned to set my sideview mirrors is different from what my parents were taught decades ago. As driving changes, it’s important to stay up to date with how to drive safely and properly. Another example is something that is becoming more and more prevalent in the US: the roundabout. They’re more common in Europe than in the US, but they are being built more in the States. However, not many drivers know how to handle them, which leads to accidents. Knowing how to navigate the road properly and drive through certain intersections or roundabouts can lead to safer driving and less driving-related deaths.

The next way to decrease the number of deaths from driving is to stay away from technology. Just like roads, technology is changing more and more as time goes on. More and more technology is being added to cars for “convenience” and “safety”. Yet this is problematic and can easily cause drivers to be distracted. Sometimes these screens and consoles can be useful in cars, such as allowing for GPS display. However, it often leads to distracted driving, thus leading to more accidents. Another common issue we’ve all heard of and probably seen at one point or another is texting and driving. In 2022 alone, about 12.1% of traffic deaths were due to texting and driving. This topic is an issue especially common among teens who are eager to start driving but also want to use their phones all the time. It doesn’t help that many teen drivers are new. In a 2024 CDC survey, it was found that about 39% of high school students admitted to texting and driving. In fact, my mom and I have been in an accident due to a teen texting and driving. Thankfully, it wasn’t fatal, or even that bad, but it was still an issue and could’ve been avoided if the other person just put down their phone.

The final way to reduce the number of driving deaths is to always drive sober. In 2022, about one third of traffic deaths were caused by drunk drivers. Intoxicated drivers are about four times as likely to be involved in an accident, which means they’re more likely to end up killing someone on the road. There aren’t many other solutions other than to just avoid driving intoxicated, or call a taxi or Uber if you need one. Unfortunately, this problem is likely to only grow as more and more states legalize marijuana. In 2012, the first couple of states legalized marijuana, but now a total of 24 states – almost half of the US – has legalized it. The number of cannabis related deaths has grown drastically since more and more states legalized it, and it only seems as if that number will grow higher (no pun intended). There are some ways you can avoid driving intoxicated. A few of them are to pick a designated driver, give someone else your keys when you drink or smoke, or even avoid drinking and smoking altogether. Even following all these steps doesn’t ensure your safety, though, as others might not follow the law. Therefore it’s important to know how to recognize an intoxicated driver and avoid them. Also make sure to never let anyone drive if you know they’re intoxicated.

In conclusion, traffic deaths have been an issue for a while and will only get worse as the roads change, technology evolves, and smoking and drinking become more prevalent. However, by staying educated, avoiding technology, and only driving sober, you can be a safe driver and contribute to the reduction of traffic accidents. You can’t control how others drive, but by controlling yourself, you can make the roads safer.