Making Roads Safer and Keeping People Alive

People are much more likely to get injured or die due to a car accident than a plane crash, and yet most of us are much more afraid of airplanes than we are of cars. I, like many other 16 year-olds, am currently learning how to drive, and it has made me realize how dangerous driving truly is. There are so many things I didn’t register when I was just a passenger in the car that I must keep track of as the driver, things that I have seen others who have been driving for years not do.

The first thought that comes to mind when someone mentions driver education is the process that those applying for their driver’s license must go through. It is often their first introduction to the intricacies of the rules and etiquette of driving. This process, however, is not standardized across the United States, and in some places, woefully inadequate. In Pennsylvania, for example, to obtain their learner’s permit a person only has to get 15/18 questions correct on a test. While some might say that studying for the test will give them all the necessary knowledge, the fact is that the leading cause of teen deaths is motor vehicle accidents and that the age group of 16-19’s fatal crash rate is more than twice as high than any other age group. Experience is a large factor in this equation, but so is education. Drivers must have the foundation of a proper education if they are to gain the right kind of experience, and there are places where this does not happen. Instead of learning by experience, drivers should be able to use their prior learning to ensure they have safer experiences. By having stricter and more comprehensive standards, people will get the kind of driver education that will help them be better drivers, and on the whole, this kind of change will make all the roads a safer place.

In my experience, the impact that the environment and culture that one is surrounded by has on how seriously one takes their driver’s education is often overlooked. Being able to drive is something most people look forward to; it’s a way to get from place to place without relying on anyone else. When this freedom is placed so close to people, it can blind them from the danger that comes with it. They will see only the good, and stop paying attention once they learn the basics. While the enthusiasm for learning is a good thing, it must be pushed in the right direction. Teenagers constitute the majority of new drivers, and other people are immense influences on their lives, whether it be their guardians or peers. Guardians play a pivotal role in how their teenager behaves, which makes it imperative that they inform their child about proper driving safety and the dangers of using their phone while driving. They can also ensure that their child is aware of the consequences of not driving safely, not just punishment from them, but also the physical and monetary risks. A teenager’s friends are also an important part of their life, and they are often more inclined to listen to someone their age than adults. If the majority of guardians speak to their children about safe driving, the conversation will undoubtedly spread and reach those teenagers who refuse to see past the bright light of the freedom of driving. Not only will new drivers be surrounded by an environment that actively encourages caution, but experienced drivers will also look at their own driving habits and be encouraged to lose the bad habits that might have developed over the years. This method hits multiple generations of drivers and creates a positive loop of education that will continue to make roads safer and prevent injury and death due to motor vehicle accidents.

While I haven’t been involved in any car accidents, a family member of mine has. They were hit because someone turned when they weren’t supposed to, and later found out that it was an old woman. The elderly are the age group that is 2nd most likely to be involved in a car accident, and because they are often physically weaker than teenagers, the chances of them receiving injuries and/or dying are higher. Driving laws have changed over time, and those who got their licenses decades ago may be following outdated ones. Seniors are at a higher risk for having decreased senses and awareness, both of which one needs on the road. I think that after people reach a certain age, they should be required to take information and driving tests to ensure that they are still able to drive correctly, for their safety and others.

Personally, I plan to keep studying driving laws while I am learning to drive, and even after I get my license because there are many, and there is a purpose to all of them. Distracted driving is one issue that many laws prohibit, but it is difficult to enforce, making it the cause of accidents that did not need to happen. Sometimes accidents happen due to things that no one can control, but other times they are preventable, so I will do anything I need to ensure that I, and as many others as possible, are not involved in preventable accidents. I will talk to my school administrators about creating an environment that promotes driving safety, especially since my school parking lot can effectively be described as a “madhouse” during dismissal.