Unexpected

Amy MiHyun Jang

Unexpected

I don’t really remember the actual event; after all I was only five. But I remember the pain that I felt after.

When I was five, I was in a car accident. On the highway, there was a slight hill, obstructing vision past the hill for all drivers, although it wasn’t an issue for those who drove safely. It seems that the person behind us didn’t fall into the group. He drove straight into our car. I was a child, only five. The impact was so bad that for the next year, I had to go to the chiropractor every week. And this accident, and many others, probably would not have occurred if drivers ed was more prevalent.

The impact of education is not debatable. We realize the benefits of education, in any field, are tremendous. Drivers ed is no exception. When people realize the statistics, the number of deaths caused by car accidents, they will take safer action. When they understand that they have to drive slower in bad weather and chains are necessary for icy terrain, people will take steps to initiate those changes. However, to some, education is a luxury. It’s not something that everyone has unlimited access to. We can argue for the strengths of drivers ed, but we will be hard-pressed to find someone who will oppose us. Rather than arguing for the importance of drivers ed – and it is very important – we have to focus on advocating for the access of drivers ed for everyone.

Our first step is to raise awareness. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only 62% of drivers have taken drivers ed before getting their license. 62% is low compared to the 85% graduation rate of high school students in America. The lower access to drivers ed, unfortunately, is expected. Although public education is free, drivers ed is not. Although price varies, it is usually equivalent to many hours of minimum wage. It takes time outside of the normal school hours. It normally requires internet connection. On top of that, people without cars or older drivers do not have an incentive to learn drivers ed. We have to advocate against this status quo.

But advocation without action is pointless. And that is the next step. We have to make measurable change. Promote initiatives like MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) that highlight the consequences of bad driving. Take lessons from large companies that have impactful advertising. Collaborate with tech and software companies to influence the next generation of drivers. Raise funds to sponsor drivers ed for students who need it. Offer a class during school hours, maybe during lunch time if necessary. Encourage students to transfer their learning to their parents. Think outside the box. My friend once told me that when she attended the Rich Brian’s (a songwriter’s) concert, the opening act was not another artist, but Andrew Yang, the politician. He was innovative. That was unexpected. We need to tackle drivers ed like that.