Driver Education Saves Lives

DRIVER EDUCATION SAVES LIVES

Driver education is important for reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. This standard education ensures that all licensed drivers know and agree to follow the same driving rules. Professionals like doctors, lawyers, electricians, and teachers must receive education to learn best practices for their respective fields. Furthermore, they must pass an exam to prove their knowledge. Their jobs affect people’s health, freedom, safety, and education, and people depend on them to provide responsible services. Accordingly, people operating moving vehicles that weigh over 2,000 pounds, bear a responsibility to reduce their chances of causing a fatal accident that could unnecessarily cause a family to lose a loved parent, grandparent, spouse, child, sibling, or other valued member of the community. Teaching the meaning of road signs, driving rules, driving skills, driving safety, and ways to respond to hazardous weather conditions protects all drivers and minimizes the risk of preventable deaths and other violations that could cause an increase in insurance costs. In 1934, Amos Neyhart started the first high school driver’s education course, and I am grateful for his vision.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “2016 Fatal Traffic Crash Data,” distraction, drowsiness, drunk-driving, speeding, and failure to wear a seat belt comprise the top reasons for driving deaths. To reduce the number of deaths, drivers need to make conscientious decisions about fidgeting with a radio, using a cell phone, driving after using alcohol or other drugs, speeding, and wearing seat belts. People can speak up and offer helpful suggestions about safety when they notice family members, coworkers, or friends who seem tired, intoxicated, preoccupied, or in a rush. Learning from others’ poor decisions can help prevent recurrences. Some high schools bring a totally mangled car to their campus near prom time to emphasize the importance of decision-making while driving. Seeing these cars makes the seriousness of driving more real.

I thank the Lord that I have never been in a car accident, but a minister at my church nearly died in a motorcycle accident last year. While I do not know the cause of the accident, I visited him and saw cuts on his head, swelling and redness around his eyes and face, and his difficulty walking. After days in the hospital, physical therapy, and time away from work, he recovered from his injuries. He is a close friend to our family, and we felt heartbroken when we heard what happened to him. Minister Smith has taught my youth Bible study class, helped me cut grass, used his chainsaw to cut some of our trees, and shared barbecued ribs with our family. If he had died, I definitely would have felt that loss.

To practice safety as a teen driver, the first thing I do when I get in my car is fasten my seat belt. I understand that seat belts save lives by protecting internal organs in a crash, limiting how much the body moves in an accident, and safeguarding the head and neck. Several states have “click it or ticket” laws. Even if someone has an accident, seat belts seem to be the first defense against serious injury or death. Secondly, I adjust my seat and mirrors to ensure that I can see well. I keep my phone in my pocket and decide not to answer it while driving. Also, I keep my radio volume low, so I remain focused on the road and other drivers. Finally, I pay attention to road signs, traffic signals, and the distance between myself and the cars in front of me to avoid collisions.

To become a better driver, I plan to gain more experience driving on highways and using my GPS. I live in a rural area and frequently drive to our local grocery store, church, high school, and other familiar places. Since I plan to become a college student in a different town next fall, I expect to have a car on campus in the future. I want to be better prepared to drive to college, find new places, and travel home for holidays safely. Part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s mission is “to ensure America has the safest, most efficient and modern transportation system in the world … and [enhance] the quality of life in communities both rural and urban.” I plan to do my best to help accomplish this goal.