Name: Meredith Ashley
From: Fairfax, Virginia
Votes: 0
Learning
to Drive: Don’t let this Milestone Become your Last
By
Meredith Ashley
Learning
to drive is a big milestone. With the knowledge of how to operate a
vehicle comes the power to go anywhere, whether to a friend’s
house, home after a long day at work, or on a road trip. But this
same knowledge also gives you the power to kill, instantly. Although
many may not think of it that way, every time you get behind the
wheel of a vehicle you operate a 3-3.5 ton piece of machinery that if
operated incorrectly or irresponsibly could result in the death of
you or a fellow driver. With 34,000 deaths each year as the result of
driving it is extremely important that we teach drivers of all ages
not just how to operate a vehicle but how to do so safely and
responsibly. This means knowing everything from understanding road
signs and how to physically operate the vehicle to knowing how to
stay focused while driving. It is important that we prevent
irresponsible driving in any way possible, one of the best places to
start is in the design of the cars themselves. With the rise of
technology use in our daily lives it has become popular to integrate
touchscreens and cell phone pairing into vehicles. Although this was
initially designed to decrease distracted driving, the increase of
screens in cars is doing the exact opposite. According to Debbie
Hersman, president of the National Safety Council, “Large flat
screen designs require so much attention researchers say most should
not be operated while the car is in motion.” Car companies would be
better off integrating phone “lockout” technology that prevents
drivers from using their phones while the vehicle was in motion or
steering wheel sensors that detected high BAC levels.
I have seen both my
friends and parents distracted by a phone while driving and although
I knew how dangerous it was I was afraid to speak up. One thing I can
do is start speaking up when I see irresponsible driving. Sure, it
can be awkward, but if everyone spoke up when they saw distracted or
irresponsible driving 42% of drivers wouldn’t be texting and
driving and 20% of drivers wouldn’t be drinking and driving.
It’s also
important that drivers ed classes become mandatory but also
more accessible. Many driving schools can cost $300+ making it
difficult for low income drivers to gain sufficient practical driving
knowledge and experience. By offering practical classes at school or
at a discounted rate through state and local governments we could
better ensure that every new driver is well prepared for their time
on the road. When drivers are well educated about the risks of
distracted driving as well as how to operate the vehicle itself
crashes are reduced by 4.3%. After having driven for over two years
and taking a road trip across the country with my family I can attest
that the only real way to improve at driving is by doing it under the
supervision of an experienced adult driver.
