Am I going to die tonight?

Driving, the control and operation of a motor vehicle. That’s all it is, right? It’s that simple. When you go out for a drive, what do you think of? Is it where you’re going, who you will be with, or what are you going to do when you get here? A question I think we need to be asking ourselves before we enter the vehicle is this:

“Am I going to die tonight?”

Will speeding down the road, blaring music, and friends in the backseat be the last thing you ever see? Is the last thing you hear going to be the screeching of tires on the road, or the shattering of glass, and the crunch of vehicles colliding?

Statistics show that more people die in car accidents per year in the U.S. than in some of our major wars combined. On average, more than 42,000 people a year pass on due to car accidents/car-related incidents. These numbers are why driver education is so important. Without the proper knowledge that comes with getting a driver’s license comes accidents.

As everyone else around me turned 15, they were excited to get their learner’s permit and finally begin driving around. I on the other hand was not as excited as the rest. Even at 17, I still don’t have my driver’s license. Driving freaks me out and causes a bubble of anxiety in my stomach. While driving and I am not best friends, I still understand the risks that come with it.

Driving is an essential skill in today’s world, and it offers both convenience and mobility. For some, it is their main mode of transport. Driver education is one of the biggest and most crucial things that can help reduce the number of deaths per year. By equipping drivers with the knowledge and skill it takes to go behind the wheel, we can significantly reduce the number of deaths on the road. It truly promotes safe habits overall and can be the difference between living another day.

While driver education can be one of the first steps to getting a driver’s license, it doesn’t mean it has to stop there. Driver education shouldn’t be a one-time event, but an ongoing process. Encouraging drivers to keep on learning about new laws and safety practices can be vital. These types of commitments to driver education create a safer driving environment for everyone around you.

Like there are many steps to getting behind the wheel, there are also steps that prevent accidents further on. Once driver education has been enhanced to the limit, we can start to understand the risks that are associated with driving. Things like speeding, reckless driving, and driving under the influence need to be recognized as an issue in this world. Educating people about these dangers helps to make safe and informed decisions as they go on the road. Another step that plays a large part in safe driving is a person’s attitude. Attitudes towards driving can create a large impact while on the road. By incorporating discussions about road rage and aggressive driving, we can promote feelings of patience and empathy among drivers.

While I haven’t been in a car accident personally, I have seen plenty of them. I live on a rather wide road, one that many people use regularly. The popularity of this road and how it was built has made a huge contribution to the amount of wrecks in the area. People often speed down the road or don’t pay attention to the yield signs as they go through. One of the worst accidents I’ve seen was just off the corner of my block. I was maybe 13 and was riding bikes with a friend. It was just a normal day. As we rounded the corner and made it to the middle of the block, we looked up to see two cars slamming into one another. One car stayed on the road, and the other went off course, sliding into the side of a home. It happened so quickly, and that’s when I truly realized just how dangerous driving could be.

A driver can take multiple steps to be safe. Questions can be asked each time you step into a vehicle, and these questions can be the difference between life and death. As I begin driving, these questions pop up in my head. Am I physically and mentally safe to drive today? Do I know the risks? Am I driving with people I trust? I know that I can be safe on the road by using the skills learned in driver education and being aware of my surroundings. It may not seem like much, but I know deep down that I can make an impact. That I can help reduce the number of driver deaths and accidents on the road.

I can make a difference.