In The Driver’s Seat

Across the United States, families mourn the loss of a loved one due to vehicle accidents more and more. I remember turning sixteen and feeling the freedom I got when I received my driver’s license. However, it wasn’t until much later that I realized the responsibility that comes with getting behind the wheel. In the summer of 2010, I lost a dear friend to a vehicle accident. He had fallen asleep at the wheel and never made it home for his mother’s birthday dinner. I watched as his widowed mother had to choose whether to take him off life support. Now, every year on her birthday, she is reminded of the void in her life where her son used to be. After this accident, I began to take driving more seriously.

Driver education is imperative to keep those on the roads safe. Although accidents are going to happen, many can be avoided if precautions are put into place. For instance, distracted driving has become a substantial issue. With the growing importance of cell phones and being accessible, drivers have become more focused on their phones than on the road. I have seen other driver’s eyes looking down instead of on the road when I pass them, indicating they are looking at a phone. One way to combat this increasing problem would be to require the viewing of an educational video before a license renewal. The video could contain information and real consequences of distracted driving to help drivers understand the importance of focused driving.

Laws have been created to eliminate or discourage distracted driving, and vehicles have safety features that alert and encourage drivers to take a break and rest. However, from my experience, I have not seen law enforcement support these laws as they should. For instance, if someone is texting and driving, they will only be pulled over if some other law is also being broken, such as swerving, not wearing a seatbelt, running a red light, or an accident occurs. I believe that if law enforcement truly cracked down on these laws, change would happen. The technology in vehicles could also have a huge impact on the safety of drivers. With innovations such as CarPlay and Android Auto, voice commands are delivered from the driver to keep the driver’s phone out of their hands. Although the driver’s focus could still be on the task they are doing, their hands are on the steering wheel and their eyes on the road. With technologies advancing in vehicles to promote safe driving, the automobile industry is proving its commitment to the safety of its drivers.

As when you turn fifteen and must take a written test to get your learner’s license or the driving test when you turn sixteen, I believe that a variety of tests should be administered throughout different stages of a person’s life to ensure safety on the road. For example, many accidents are caused by elderly drivers who probably should not be driving a vehicle. After a certain age, eyesight, reflexes, and cognitive abilities begin to decline, which can result in major implications. My grandmother is an example of someone who shouldn’t be driving because she can’t see out of one eye due to complications from a stroke, and she has a brain tumor that affects her cognitive ability. However, she has a valid driver’s license. If tests were given after a certain age to determine one’s ability to operate a vehicle, this could save lives and reduce the burden on families that are forced to take their loved ones’ freedom away because the state issued them a valid license.

I have made an effort to reduce distractions while I am driving by placing my phone in a designated area until I arrive at my destination. I have also realized that no text message, email, or phone call is more important than my life, my passengers, or other drivers around me. When riding with others, I do not hesitate to mention the importance of focused driving and discourage the use of cell phones while driving. I offer to assist the driver in any way that eliminates the need for them to pick up their phones or otherwise be distracted. My family and friends have expressed their gratitude and appreciation for my commitment to keeping everyone safe. I intend to share more information with those around me about the weight of responsibility of being behind the wheel with the hopes that they will, in turn, share with others the importance of driver safety.