Road Safety Starts with Education

Throughout childhood, everyone has that nostalgic TV show they vividly remember watching. For me, it was Full House. I have always enjoyed watching it with my parents and spending that quality time together made me feel closer to them. If you’re unfamiliar with Full House, it centers around a single dad who works hard to raise three daughters with the help of his friends. However, I often wondered what happened to the mom during the show. Where was she in their times of need? It wasn’t until much later on that I learned the tragic backstory of the mother being killed off in a drunk driving accident. Since I’m finally old enough to drive for myself, I began to understand how common and heartbreaking such events could be. Then, I finally realized the importance of driving and how driving education could save lives.

Driving accidents are all too frequent, and unfortunately, many cases result in innocent lives being taken. Each year, more than 1.35 million lives are lost globally due to road crashes, and just in the United States, car crashes alone represent one of the leading causes of death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies these accidents as a significant public health issue, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive driver training and education. These intervention programs are essential for teaching the rules of the road, traffic laws, and vehicle operation and instilling safe driving habits that can last a lifetime. Many new drivers often learn informally from family or friends, and with doing that, there’s a significant risk that they may not receive the crucial training needed to handle diverse driving situations, such as defensive driving techniques or emergency responses. This lack of formal education can lead to dangerous driving practices, resulting in accidents that could have been avoided.

Driving, especially safely, is serious and should not be taken lightly. Unlike the Tanner family from the show, who had a solid support system after a tragedy, many people face such grief alone from what could have been preventable. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that in 2021, there were about 6,843 people injured in traffic crashes each day, and one person was killed every 12 minutes. While many of these statistics mentioned earlier may provide compelling evidence of the urgency of driver education, it’s also important to dive deeper into the underlying factors of these results.

Driver education can go beyond the basic rules of the road and can offer further education for everyone regardless of experience. Taking the extra step and refreshing yourself or others on ways to drive safely can help bring down the number of these awful statistics. With these programs, students learn how to anticipate potential hazards and react appropriately, which can significantly decrease the likelihood of accidents caused by distracted or impaired driving. For instance, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that drivers who complete educational programs are 50% less likely to be involved in accidents compared to those who do not receive formal training. This proactive approach not only addresses immediate driving skills but also instills a sense of responsibility and awareness regarding the consequences of reckless behavior.

Furthermore, driver education programs often include practical, behind-the-wheel training, allowing students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world scenarios. This hands-on experience is invaluable in preparing drivers and understanding the risks associated with driving. In addition to promoting driver education, several steps can be taken at the community and individual levels to reduce the number of driving-related deaths. Community initiatives that promote safe driving habits, such as programs and even this driving scholarship and others like it, can help spread awareness and inspire people to do their own research on safe driving. Also another method is encouraging people you know to plan for safe transportation options after consuming alcohol. Perhaps by providing a designated shared community carpool after special events where one can find themselves impaired, we can significantly lower the risk of drunk driving incidents. Moreover, on a personal level, there are steps every driver can take to be safer and help others on the road. For myself, I try and keep all distractions away from me so I can fully focus on the road ahead on me. I take pride knowing that I’m preventing potential harm to myself and to my loved ones around me.

In conclusion, while Full House provides a comforting narrative, it serves as a reminder of the realities of life. However it is possible to minimize the risks of unsafe driving by utilizing these programs and techniques to ensure that our roads are safer for everyone. Through collaborative efforts we can create a safer driving environment for all and prevent families to never know the heartbreak associated with avertible tragedies.