Seconds Matter: The Importance of Road Safety and Education

Growing up, I always dreamed of having the freedom to be able to drive anywhere at any time. What kid wouldn’t want that freedom? I got my learner’s permit as soon as possible and I began a drivers education course. Once I completed my drivers education course, I got my school permit and immediately started driving myself to school. I live out in the country so my parents made it very clear on how important driving safely on gravel roads was. Just about a couple months of me driving to and from school, I was going way too fast on gravel, lost control of my car, and went over a dried up creek. The fear, adrenaline, and sickening feeling of being airborne and going off a bridge is something that I’ll never forget. That was truly one of the most horrific nights of my life. Luckily, I got away with a few scrapes and bruises however, my car was totaled. From there on, I told myself I would practice safe driving techniques and focus more on my driving skills to not only protect myself but the people around me as well.

Not only have I gotten myself into an accident but I lost a great and unforgettable friend due to a vehicle collision. Just a few months ago in the beginning of our senior year, a group of guys car pooled together to go to watch our volleyball team play only 30 minutes away. The car consisted of 5 of my classmates and some of them were close friends of mine. I got a call at 3am the next morning that those boys got in a horrible crash on their way home from the late game. The person that called me told me that one of the guys died on the scene and someone else got airlifted but all of them were in critical condition. I remember sitting in my bedroom alone staring into the darkness, telling myself this couldn’t be true, this is the stuff you read on the news but it doesn’t actually happen to you. But I was proved wrong. A friend of mine since freshman year of high school, Gavin, died because the driver of the vehicle tried to pass the car in front of them, ran a stop sign, and collided with another car. Losing someone so young with such a bright future was a stab in the gut. This is something that impacted the entire community and is something that our entire town will remember as a lesson. Losing Gavin to an accident that could have been avoided is something that I will think about for the rest of my life. If those boys had more education on safe driving then maybe Gavin would still be with us today, cracking jokes in class, and walking with us at commencement. That’s why I think it’s so incredibly important for people to know the importance of driver’s education.

Reducing the number of driving-related deaths requires a combination of things to help our drivers. Most importantly I think improving driver education, implementing stricter drivers education courses can help defensive driving skills. We could also encourage awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, drunk driving, or speeding. Another step that could be taken to reduce driving-related deaths could be enforcing stricter penalties for reckless driving or DUI’s, this could make drivers think twice before making a decision that could end someone’s life. Going along with this, law enforcement could implement harsher consequences for repeated traffic violations. Lastly, upgrading road and vehicle safety could help protect drivers. This can include better lighting, clear signage, and designated pedestrian and bicycle lanes. Something about losing Gaven that always bothered me was, what if that stop sign was made clearer? Improving the little things like these on our roads could be so beneficial in reducing driving-related deaths.

In the end, safe driving practices and drivers education is crucial to help prevent accidents and potentially save lives. Driving can be very intimidating due to the amount of deaths that occur regularly but bringing light to the situation and encouraging better practices, drivers could feel more comfortable and confident on the roads. Throughout my experiences as a driver and as someone who lost a loved one too quickly due to a split second decision on the road, I have come to understand just how crucial road safety and proper driving education are in preventing tragedy and protecting lives.