The Importance Of Driver Education

When we grow up, getting a “new car” or “learning how to drive” is what everyone wants. Once you can drive, you gain a sense of freedom. Knowing that people tend to abuse that freedom. Car accidents are the third leading cause of death and injury in the U.S. Recent data show that 19,937 crashes happen every day. 118 deaths are caused by car accidents each day, with 2 car crashes every 10 seconds. The latest United States Census data shows that 92 percent of American households own at least one car. Most of our population has and uses their car as their mode of transportation every day. Driver’s education is crucial for everyone to know. When you’re in the passenger seat of your car, you are not only responsible for your safety. You are responsible for the cars and people in front of you, next to and behind you, and the safety of the people in your car. Learning about driver’s education can save your life and others’ lives. You do not want to be the cause or reason why the “Number of Deaths” increases on a statistical car crash report.

Many new drivers need to be made aware of the risks that come with driving. Being an intelligent and educated driver should be everyone’s goal. The steps that can be taken to gain more awareness about driver education are to get people to share real personal stories about the effects and impact car accidents had on them. Survivor stories can impact any age group, from someone telling their story when they were most vulnerable. Another step that one can take is to teach K-12 schools the importance of driver safety with motivational speakers or fundraisers. Help teach kids from an early age right from wrong when driving. Also, the kids can help raise awareness and money for survivors and their families who have had permanent damage from car accidents. Social influencers and celebrities can also help spread awareness about driver education with their social influence and following. The idea is to get more people aware and involved in driver’s education. With the right people and a click of a button, somebody can spread awareness fast and efficiently.

“I’m going to die!” My only thought that continuously spun around in my head was in the passenger seat of my brother’s 2008 Ford SUV after a big semi-truck hit the passenger side of the car. I hear my brother yelling my name, “Brissia! Brissia!” all muffled. I feel his arm trying to protect my body and see his other hand on the wheel. I felt an immense aching pain in my right arm. I see glass break and fly. First, we spun, the truck hit us again, and the car started rolling. I’m silent while all of this is going on, as all of this happened in a matter of seconds. We roll, and roll, and roll. Airbags go off, glass still shatters, and I’m imagining my death. The thought of death didn’t leave my mind. I was so sure I was going to die; no hope or faith was in my conscience. I was so sure the car was going to roll into a bayou, water filling up the inside, and then, “21-year-old brother and 14-year-old sister die in a fatal car crash.” I still don’t know why I had no hope of surviving, but I’m blessed and grateful to be alive.

Right now, I am currently learning how to drive. I can now take steps to be a better and safer driver: to learn road safety and driver etiquette. I want to learn how to drive appropriately and practice driving before I drive on the road. As I mentioned before, when you are driving, you are not only responsible for your life, you are responsible for others’ lives as well. Teach friends and family about driver safety. I could tell others about my car accident and the impact it had on me. In my city, there are many teen drivers on the road. Raising awareness about driver education is essential and beneficial not only for them but for their parents as well. Car accidents impact everyone in America. Not personally affected, but friends, family, family, peers, etc., can have an impact. The fact is that car accidents are too normalized. The number of deaths caused by car accidents is scarily high, and the number needs to drop. Everyone’s safety is essential, and everyone should feel safe when they are driving. Everyone should not worry about the possibility of their lives drastically changing in a second. We need change, and we need to help to start the change.