Statistics of the Driver’s Seat

Tykiera James

July 2020

Drivers ed Initiative Award

Statistics of the Driver’s Seat

Thirty-Four thousand people die because of driving each year on average in America. Within a span of two years the total number of Americans who have died because of driving is more than the total number of American deaths from the Vietnam War. How can we lower these death rates? How can we help not only ourselves but also others become safer on the road? How is drivers ed important in reducing the number of deaths from driving? Using the information from the statistics given we can come up with ways to reduce deaths from driving.

One way to lower these death rates are to start requiring drivers ed classes. According to an article on Newsroom.unl.edu states, a new study that followed more than 150,000 teen drivers over eight years has found drivers ed significantly reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers. At least 75% of young drivers are more likely to get a traffic ticket if they have not completed drivers ed, 24% are more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident, and 16% are more likely are more likely to have an accident, as the study showed. There are various steps that can be take to both reduce the number of deaths related to driving and to be a better and safer driver as well help other be safe on the road. Some steps that can be taken are requiring drivers ed classes and requalification’s every two to five years to make sure everyone is road worthy. Other steps are obeying traffic laws, paying attention to your surroundings, not driving while sleep deprived, and avoiding drunk driving. These steps can be taken not only to reduce the number of deaths due to driving but also help keep yourself and other drivers safer on the road. The importance of drivers ed could be the difference between driving safely and causing a fatal accident on the road. They teach you the state driving laws, automobile basics, and life-saving defensive driving maneuvers. Though I have not been involved in any car accidents, I have been in instances where I have been in the car with family while the driver was not driving safely. Such as not driving with a seatbelt on and texting while driving.

While these steps are just a few that you can take, there are plenty more measures that can be performed to make driving safer. There are various ways one can make driving safer for everyone. We just must take the time to make sure everyone knows those methods to ensure safety.