Safe Driver Now and Later

Safe Driver Now and Later

Brooke Boynar

November 25, 2020

I have been on the road in Ohio for almost two years and can honestly say that it has not at all been what I expected. With what I learned in driver education class, I guess I expected young and old drivers to show better care and judgement while driving. Unfortunately, I have seen the opposite; people in a hurry, eating while driving, cutting off other drivers, putting on make-up, not stopping for school buses, speeding through intersections, etc., putting themselves and others at risk. Drivers education is obviously important to prevent bad things from happening to good people, but continued education is just as important. It seems like drivers need to be reminded of the dangers we face when we get into our cars every day and that the life we save may be our own.

In Ohio where I live, there were 1,003 motor vehicle fatalities in 2019. I am no math genius but that’s almost 84 people a month or 3 per day in Ohio alone. Think about the 3 people nearest you while you read this and tell me that’s not scary. Of those 1,000+ fatalities, 597 were OVI-related, 474 were unbelted, and 12% were pedestrians, who sadly were probably just going about their business. All senseless in my opinion especially for those who choose to not wear their seatbelt or for those who feel driving under the influence of anything is okay.

Let’s face it, not everyone will be willing to change. I know that habits and attitudes are difficult to break, however, if drivers were obligated to re-certify their license or pass a driver skills test ever 5-10 years, maybe they would be reminded of the dangers and need for safe driving.

I am thankful that I haven’t been a car accident although I’ve been scared a few times. In one such occasion, I pulled into an intersection after a stop and almost got hit by someone who wasn’t paying attention. The Ohio Strategic Highway Safety Plan says that 36% of distracted driving accidents are caused by young drivers (ages 15-25) and 17% at an intersection. I think it is safe to say that, whether you are a driver under the age of 25 or the mom or dad of a young driver, all of us have been distracted while driving but its situations and stats likes these that really make me think about what I or my friends and family can do to be better drivers.

I think the simplest thing we can do is to give ourselves more time. When I give myself more time, I am:

• Less stressed about getting to where I am going

• Less likely to speed

• More aware of my surroundings

• Better at maintaining a safe distance.

Driving is a necessity for many of us but if we don’t acknowledge the importance of driving education, continued education and safe driving then our friends, family or even ourselves are bound to be a State Highway Patrol statistic someday.