First Place

Clinching to my 6-speed shifter, I navigate it into 5th gear as I speed down the road. With the wind in my face, I glide towards this right turn then I catch a silhouette of what seems to be a cop car so I step on the gas until I can not see the dark figure in my rearview mirror. I dash into my parking spot. At that moment, I smirked as I successfully made a 15-minute expedition to work a simple 5-minute frolic through the streets. This is what I thought driving was like when I was a child; this incorrect way is often conveyed to the young population through the internet and their peers. Fast drivers are often praised for their quickness or “good driving” as some would comment and this erroneous way of driving is constantly fed to new drivers.

A majority of car accidents involve novice drivers; this fact is supported by the continuous rising prices for teen car insurance. I believe that is where a good driver’s education descends to save the disarrayed minds of young drivers who have a deluded outlook on driving. A better-informed driver on the dangerous roads of America can help prevent serious or even fatal car collisions. With a more informed mind about the rules of the road, a driver can make split decisions that can help them save the lives of others and themselves. Driver education can help alleviate car-related accidents among new drivers by better informing them about what it means to be a part of the driving community. A good driver’s education can teach new drivers about the disadvantages of distracted or reckless driving. It can, more importantly, inform them about the many disadvantages of drunk driving; these include fines, jail, and the endangerment of you and other drivers.

Car-related deaths have increased in the U.S, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Traffic fatalities have increased by 7.2% from 2019 to 2020. I believe that to reduce the number of car-related deaths; we have to come united to make a fundamental change to the way we bring new drivers onto the roads. I also firmly believe that car crashes will inevitably happen with an increased chance the longer we drive. I also believe that several steps can be taken to severely reduce Vehicular related deaths.

Different states have different requirements to allow new drivers onto their roads and some states have rigorous requirements while others don’t. This leniency on driver education in certain states allows bad drivers onto the roads and this problem increases vehicle-related accidents. The first step to reducing this statistic would be to increase the time spent to obtain a driver’s license. Due to how different states require different steps to get a license, I believe that making driver license certification a federal affair with a set amount of prerequisites country-wide will help create better drivers on the road. All states following the same regulations on driver licenses will allow more rigorous rules to be implemented. This, then, allows for every driver in the country to obtain the same driver education.

Another step to reduce car-related deaths is to require every high school student to take one semester of a driver education course at least once in the four years of high school. Like the previous suggestion, it ensures that every new driver on the road is properly informed about the rules of the road. This strategy helps spread more knowledge across a larger population. This also ensures that there are better-educated drivers on the road across America.

I believe strongly in this cause to spread knowledge to all drivers because I have seen the strife and damage car collisions cause upon people’s lives. Although I have never personally been in a car crash, I have seen the aftermath of car collisions. That experience forever changes people; it changes how they see cars. I know friends and family who refuse to get into any vehicle due to their previous traumatic events. There are also plenty of others that fear every second they’re on the road. As a devoted advocate for safe and responsible driving, I try to better inform myself as a driver to prevent fatal accidents that can forever change my life and the life of others. With a more united front to better educate drivers about the dangers of the road, I believe that we can make a better change to car accidents. For us to truly come into first place, we have to come together to make a better change to the way we see driving and that starts by educating ourselves.