buckle up and put the phone down.

In most states you aren’t required to take a driving education course if you are over the age of 18. Only 4 out 50 states require adults to take a drivers ed class. 32 out of 50 states require a drivers ed class if under the age of 18. Kansas and South Dakota have no restrictions on getting your license. If each state started enforcing driver’s ed, then maybe the car crashes and fatalities would be down. A study from 2012 showed that the drivers who had taken a driver’s ed course were involved in fewer crashes: 11.1% of the driver’s ed group, as opposed to 12.9% of those who hadn’t taken a course, had been involved in a crash. The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among teens aged 16–19 than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers in this age group are nearly three times as likely as drivers aged 20 or older to be in a fatal crash. Another study in 2018 says the first 18 months after a teen gets their licenses is the most dangerous. The reason behind this is due to inexperience and the tendency to get distracted. Not only are teens more likely to get in an accident but a study published in 2004 shows, over 52 percent of nonfatal car crashes happen within five miles of your home.

I think the most obvious answer to reducing accidents and deaths due to them, would be requiring every driver to take a driving course. I have friends who didn’t take any type of drivers Ed and they have had at least two car accidents. I had taken a driving education course and have had no accidents. The education videos shown in class have given me lots of confidence in driving. As well as scaring me a little and teaching me to pay close attention to other drivers, to avoid accidents. The second thing that could help reduce accidents is, having mock trials. My high school performed one right around prom and it really brings awareness to drinking and driving. As well as the possibility of death and the effect it has on friends and families. Finally I think if the DMV had a medical screening in place before giving someone their license it would help reduce the deaths from car crashes. For instance people with narcolepsy shouldn’t be driving at all. Narcolepsy is a brian condition where you unexpectedly fall asleep. A condition like that can cause major accidents when driving.

At the age of 16 my grandma and I were in a car accident. A woman ran a stop sign and T-boned the passenger side of our truck. My grandmother was fine, but even with my seat belt on my head flung sideways and cracked the window. I blacked out and ended up with a concussion and herniated discs in my lower back. Six years later and I still have terrible back problems from that accident.

Every time I get in my car I have a routine that helps me continue being a safe driver. I first put my seat belt on and check all my mirrors. I make sure my brakes and signals are all working. Then when i’m driving I constantly check my mirrors and pay attention to other cars. When at a stop stop sign I turn my head both ways twice before turning or proceeding across. At traffic lights when it turns green I will sit there a few seconds to make sure no cars run the red light. I have seen several accidents where people go through a light as soon as it turns green, and they get in horrible accidents because someone ran the red light.

In conclusion it’s really up to each individual driver to make the roads a safer place. Car accidents aren’t taboo. We see them on the news, social media, movies and in real time. Everyone is responsible for their actions and when you are behind the wheel it’s important to remember that. Is that text message really worth the risk of causing an accident? Is speeding really worth the risk of a ticket or someone’s life? Each time you get in the car make a vow to yourself to be a safe driver. Buckle up and put the phones away. Plan to leave early so you don’t have to speed. One day it could be you that gets into an accident. Put a stop to it by making good choices when behind the wheel.