Education is the Key

I’ve seen the damage. 

I see them all the time. I grew up driving from a suburban community to Downtown, Atlanta. The amount of accidents I’ve seen is astounding. It’s numbing after a while. Furthermore, I’ve felt the aftershocks of a car wreck. My grandparents, for years, didn’t use their seatbelts when they drove. My grandma in particular outright refused them. Though she assured us, her seatbelt strike came to a head when I was six. I wasn’t there myself, but my cousin was. All I remember of the incident is that both my grandparents suffered greatly from what would have been minor injuries if not for their age. My cousin was traumatized, and the car was gone. It was eye opening. Though the accidents on the side of I-85 may numb me, I don’t forget that accident. I don’t have the privilege of a driver’s license, but I’m taking my driver’s education seriously.

Education, as with so many other things in life, can change lives. Obviously, education isn’t going to stop stupidity. Nothing can stop impulsive driving decisions. However, a driver’s education course is a vital tool in reducing the number of driving deaths. Recently I was talking to my Mom. As a driver of almost 30 years, I thought she could help me with a question. We were going over some information, when she paused. I looked at her for a moment. 

“Mom?” I asked. “What’s up?”

“Emma, I don’t really know what this is.” She said with a chuckle. 

It was a moment that gave me pause. Even with all my mother’s experience, there were still things she didn’t know. That’s not to say she’s a terrible driver, far from it. It simply shows that everyone has something to learn. It reinforces that the importance of driver’s education can’t be understated. Driver’s education can be used to reduce the number of deaths on the road. Driver Smart Georgia establishes that driver’s education courses reduce deaths by roughly 4.3%. Though 4.3% may not seem like a large percentage, that percentage represents the 4,300 of 400,000 teen drivers. The data is clear, and it communicates that educating yourself causes the number of accidents to plummet. Driver’s Education also teaches critical steps for reducing the number of deaths related to driving. 

The first of these steps is obvious, never use your phone on the road. Using your phone on the road is practically asking to die. The National Safety Council reported that 1.6 million crashes involve the use of a cell phone. 390,000 of those accidents involved at least one person texting. The second that a driver’s education course can teach are the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Though this may seem obvious, a good driver’s education course can provide a fair amount of nuance. In the driver’s education course I took, I learned that various over the counter medicines can be damaging. Specifically that the side effects of essential medicines can serve as depressants or stimulants that alter your perceptions. The third, and most important, thing that a driver’s education course can teach is how to safely navigate the highway. Again, this may seem obvious, but the obvious has a way of being ignored. The rules of the highway can be incredibly complicated, and a driver’s education course can help people understand them. An understanding of these rules can help save lives. 

Personally, I’ve tried to attack my personal failings to be a better driver. Specifically, learning more about the road and my vehicle. Since I don’t have my license, I’ve been trying to learn more about the vehicle I practice with. I’ve tried to learn about the gears, the mechanisms, and everything else. I’ve tried to learn how to react in an emergency, and read up on how to be safe. For example, I’ve tried to investigate what happens in the event of an engine failure or breaking down of the brake or tires. Being knowledgeable about these techniques can help prevent damage on the roadways. Another thing I’ve done is resolve to never drink alcohol near a car. Furthermore, if I do decide to drink, I’ll ask someone to be a designated driver. I’m also choosing to be incredibly cautious in terms of over the counter medicines. This is why I’m not risking my or anyone else’s endangerment. 

The corpses are common. The accidents are so common, they’re practically mundane. I know accidents, and I know the dangers. By taking a driver’s education course, people like me won’t be numb to them.