Drivers’ Safety is a Lifelong Responsibility

The day you receive a phone call that your brother was in a car accident is a day that changes you. Whether it is a serious accident or not, it is still the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach of the “what if.” My sixteen-year-old brother was following his friend heading to high school golf practice when his friend had to come to a screeching halt as he swerved to avoid the car in front of him. My brother then had to do the same but unfortunately collided with his friend. The Sheriff Deputy indicated it was a blessing in disguise that he hit his friend’s car. Had he missed, his car would have run off a 15-foot ditch leaving us with an outcome that could have been catastrophic. How did this accident happen? There was a lead car driven by an adult, going approximately 40mph under the speed limit around a blind curve. The lead car called in the accident but after telling the dispatcher they were not involved were permitted to leave the scene. Follow-up questions later detailed that the lead driver was indeed going well under the speed limit as they were looking for fallen apples on the side of the road. Fortunately, no citations were issued. There were also no serious injuries incurred except for physical damage to the vehicles involved. But the lead driver did not have to claim any responsibility. Did this driver know about driver safety? Did they realize the potential danger of driving under the speed limit?

Drivers Education is the most important step of assuring driver safety in the United States. Driver Education should not stop at the age of 16 when a student gets their license.  In Ohio, a student is required to attend a driver’s education course, obtain driving hours with an instructor. After obtaining a temporary permit for six months, the student must pass a driving and maneuverability test to earn an Ohio driver’s license. At that point, a driver no longer has to review driver knowledge or skills to continue holding a driver’s license. This is something that should be reviewed routinely to promote safety on the roadways in years to come. Ohio law also states that any driver under 16 must complete the driver education course and driving hours. However, this is not required for applicants over the age of 18. 

One step I would take to ensure driver safety and reduce the number of fatalities in the United States would be to increase the level of driver education. Young drivers are getting educated like they need to, but the same education is not provided to adult drivers. A driver education course should be mandatory for any driver who wishes to obtain a driver’s license, not just reserved for those under the age of 18. I am confident that an adult driver would understand the laws of driving and the responsibility it requires if they attended a course and also had to have practice hours behind the wheel.  Another step that I feel would ensure driver safety in our country, is to require a knowledge test to be administered during license renewal. Currently, drivers can renew a driver’s license for a 4 year or eight-year period by simply passing an eye exam and paying fees. If a driver was required every 8 years to pass a knowledge test of laws and regulations, including road signs, it might help eliminate bad driving habits and accidents.  If the lead car in my brother’s accident realized the danger of driving slower than the speed limit, it could have eliminated the accident. 

When a student at age 16 is attempting to obtain a license, the fear of the skills and maneuverability test far outweigh the written test. Yes, those concepts are the keys to great driving, but so is the knowledge of roadway safety. I always make sure I can be as safe as possible when driving by wearing my seatbelt, keeping my phone muted, and eliminating as many distractions as possible.  Teaching these concepts to all, including adults, could assist in better outcomes. Testing could be the key. I realize people would be reluctant to take the test every eight years after renewing their driver’s license. However, a ten-question exam would encourage people to keep their skills and knowledge sharp at all times. Keeping people safe on our roadways has to be a top priority, but we cannot assume that education has to stop with the sixteen-year-old driver.  Education has to be continual to ensure our public is up to date on current laws and regulations. 

As a society where knowledge is continually accessible and literally at our fingertips, we have to be proactive in utilizing it. Continued driver education would be a key factor in promoting roadway safety and eliminating possible accidents and fatalities. Knowledge is power.