The Importance of Driver Education

On September 17, 2018, the lives of the 7,000 residents of the town of Warrenton were changed forever. Megan Gross, an accomplished senior volleyball player, was tragically killed in a car accident on her way to school. Unfortunately, Megan was one of the 36,560 people killed in traffic crashes that year. In the United States, 16 to 19 year olds account for 8% of all deaths resulting from car accidents. This results from a lack of education and experience among young drivers. If steps are taken to keep teens safe on the roads, the number of fatalities from car crashes would be drastically reduced. These steps include requiring driver education courses in schools, emphasizing the use of seatbelts, and encouraging drivers to drive undistracted.

First and foremost, the vast majority of teenagers lack adequate education and experience regarding driving. Therefore, it is crucial that states require young drivers to pass a driver education course before they may obtain their license. During these courses, traffic laws and defensive driving strategies should be taught. Additionally, students will be given the opportunity to practice driving with a certified instructor. Although it is required for one to accumulate a certain number of hours driving with their permit, there is no way to know if that person actually drove the required number of hours. However, If high school students are required to drive with a certified instructor, there is proof that they actually had adequate practice before receiving their driver’s license. According to a study conducted by the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, drivers who do not take driver education classes are at a 75% higher risk to receive a ticket, 24% more likely to suffer from injuries or even death in an accident, and they are 16% more likely to be in a car crash. Although it is statistically proven that driver education courses result in a lack of tickets, accidents, and fatalities each year, only 23 states require driver education courses to be offered in schools. In order to encourage more drivers to enroll in a driver education course if their state does not require them to take it in school, insurance companies can reduce their premium when a teenager submits proof that they successfully passed an accredited driver education course. States could also impose restrictions on teenage drivers who have not passed a driver education course. For example, they could be limited to only being permitted to have one passenger under the age of 18 in their car until they either pass a driver education course or have their license for two years. Educated drivers are safe drivers. Therefore, it is critical that states invest in offering driver education courses in schools.

Another way in which you and I can reduce the number of fatalities resulting from motor vehicle accidents is by wearing a seatbelt. It has been statistically proven time and time again that wearing a seatbelt drastically reduces the chance of a car accident resulting in a fatality. A study conducted by the United States Department of Transportation in 2017 concluded that 47% of the people killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing seat belts. The study also concluded that seat belts saved 14,955 lives in 2017 alone. Wearing a seat belt is a habit and one must become accustomed to buckling up at a young age. This makes it incredibly crucial for parents to set a good example for their children by consistently wearing their seatbelt. Parents should also model wearing their seat belt the proper way- over their lap and shoulder. The importance of not only wearing a seat belt but also wearing it the proper way became ever more apparent to my community when Megan Gross passed away in 2018. She was not wearing the seatbelt over her shoulder and was consequently flung forward and suffered fatal injuries. Unfortunately, it took this tragic event for several of my peers to wear their seatbelt properly. Many people refuse to buckle up when they are not driving far from their homes. However, over half of all motor vehicle fatalities occur within five miles of the home- debunking this excuse not to buckle up. I have most definitely been guilty of taking my seat belt for granted as have many of my friends and family members, however, it is never too late to believe the statistics and take the necessary precautions to keep ourselves safe.

A rapidly increasing safety hazard among drivers is the usage of cell phones while driving. Whether one is snapping, texting, facetiming, or checking google maps- the usage of cell phones is one of the most dangerous things one can do while driving. Not only does using a cell phone while driving put the driver at risk- it could also cause injuries or death to the passengers and the other people on the roads. Over 90% of all drivers admitted to talking on their phones while driving. The easiest way to avoid the temptation of being on your phone while driving is to turn on “Do Not Disturb” in your settings. Your iphone will then detect when you are driving and will wait to display your notifications until your vehicle is no longer moving. You can also program their iphone to send an auto reply text message while they are driving. Then, the person trying to reach you will receive a notification that you are driving. If it is urgent, they can reply with “urgent” and their message will go through. I understand first hand how difficult it may be to resist the urge to check my phone while I am driving. I spend an average of 15 hours driving each week as I have to drive over an hour each way to softball practice several times a week. I have succumbed to the temptation to check my phone multiple times while driving, however, I acknowledge my shortcomings and am taking the above steps to break this habit in order to protect myself and others on the road.

Together, we can ban together to overcome the epidemic of vehicle related injuries and fatalities. In today’s society, cars are the primary source of transportation, therefore, car accidents will most likely continue to occur as long as we live. However, we can take steps to be educated and responsible drivers such as enrolling in a driver education course, wearing our seatbelts, and driving undistracted.