My Driver Initiative 2025: Communicate in the Driver’s Seat

Let’s take a look at the numbers…

In my home state of Nebraska, 251 individuals died of a traffic-related injury in 2024. Unfortunately, this was the most in a single year since 2007. How many of those deaths could have been prevented?

Each individual is different. I let my parents know when I was comfortable and ready to begin driving. The burden of this responsibility weighed heavy on me after the seemingly constant billboards or new stories about driving fatalities, and stories my parents told (one of which I will share shortly). I was finally ready to take on the road right after I turned 16, and yes it was still scary. A non-negotiable for both myself and my family was that when I was ready, I was to attend a driver education class.

The importance of driver education in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving is significant. Driver education provided me, and the other 15 students I was with, a comprehensive understanding of traffic laws, road safety, and defensive driving techniques. My instructor equipped me with the necessary knowledge and helpful hints, to feel road-ready such as identifying reckless driving behaviors, preventing accidents, and ‘watching out for the other guy’, all with the goal of understanding that driving is a major responsibility and learning the proper skills can potentially save lives. Some additional things that we studied were the dangers of impaired driving, distraction, and speeding. It was a lot to take in during those 2 weeks, but with my newfound education, I felt more comfortable by the day.

By raising awareness and providing strategies to avoid these risky behaviors, I believe that driver education helps decrease the likelihood of accidents and fatalities caused by these factors. Overall, driver education is a critical component in promoting safe driving practices and reducing the number of deaths on the road.

So, let’s go back to that number; 251, and break down the top three events that caused these deaths and how the result of those events could have been prevented.

1. Not wearing a seatbelt. More than 70% of vehicle occupants who died in Nebraska in 2024 were not wearing a seatbelt.

2. Speeding. Of the fatal accidents due to this event, the driver was driving at least 20 MPH over the speed limit.

3. Distracted driving. I believe this is the most preventable. Using a cell phone, talking with friends, or not scanning the road while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time, increasing the risk of a crash.

Driver education programs emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts and educate students about their life-saving benefits. By promoting and reinforcing seat belt usage, drivers play a crucial role in reducing the number of deaths resulting from driving-related accidents. It is hard to take the human element out of driving. By participating in a structured driver education class or general reminders with our friends, I’m making as many people as possible aware of the dangers of speeding or being distracted while on the road in hopes of reducing these overall numbers of fatalities in the future.

I have been fortunate enough to have never experienced the frightening events of a car accident. Having the experience of my driver education class along with general everyday experience, I feel that I am a responsible driver. I have my Mom to thank, who has told me for as long as she has been able to drive, she has never had an accident or even a traffic ticket! She is never afraid to talk to me about things that could potentially affect my future. All this, however, could have ended up very differently. She tells me when she was in elementary school, she was riding her bike to school and began to cross one of the several alleyway intersections on her path. The next thing she knew she was skidding across the street tangled between her bike, the asphalt, and the bumper of a car. The teenage driver was speeding down the alleyway and failed to yield on the sidewalk, hitting my Mom and pushing her several feet down the street. Miraculously, her bike took the brunt of the damage and she only had a few scratches, but this was the first story she told me before even getting behind the wheel of a car. She shared she remembered the driver immediately getting out, and when he realized she was ok, he began crying. I just kept thinking, I don’t know what I would do if that happened to me, and I don’t ever want to find out.

I share this story with my friends in hopes of letting them know that being aware of everything when you are behind the wheel of any vehicle (car, boat, ATV, motorcycle) is just one way to be a safer driver. Other ways to help others become safer are just as simple as wearing a seatbelt and ensuring all the passengers in my vehicle do the same. Practice defensive driving by maintaining a safe distance and anticipating other drivers’ actions. Also, talk to my friends about ways to prioritize safety by speaking out against reckless behaviors like speeding or driving under the influence. My experience with driver education made a difference in my driving experience and I believe I can set an example by sharing and practicing what I’ve learned.

In closing, I simply hope that open conversations can contribute to safer and more intelligent drivers. Speak up if you don’t feel safe in a vehicle, or call out behaviors you think could potentially cause issues. Don’t end up being just a number flashed on a billboard or in a story. Talk to your friends and family and make a plan to stay safe behind the wheel.