In The Driver’s Seat

Driving in America has become increasingly dangerous over the years, especially the last three. Distractions such as cellphones, tiredness, and most importantly drug related impairment have caused many accidents throughout the years and are increasing yearly. Deaths due to these actions were up about 1.15% in 2020 compared to 2019 (McClory). One thing that can help prevent these accidents is driver education. This is because knowledge is power. And having knowledge on this topic will increase your power to make more intelligent choices while driving.

Being educated on the risks of inattentive and impaired driving can play a major role in the decrease of fatal crashes. Getting to know how, why, and what caused these accidents to occur can be an impression individuals need to make better choices on the road. Courses revolving around the effects of drugs on the body and brain, cellphone addiction, and defensive driving techniques will give people the knowledge they need to make smart decisions when on the road. Backing these courses with individuals’ stories on surviving fatal crashes will also be a solid foundation for understanding the risks at hand. Following the courses and stories can really make an individual think twice about their driving skills and attentiveness on the road; thus, creating safer roadways for everyone.

Taking courses, however, is not the only plan of action. A simple idea, proper preparation, should be used every time someone plans to hit the road, even if it’s just a five-minute drive. Proper preparation is preventative medicine in almost every aspect of life including driving. One thing we as people can do is make sure we know where we are going. Most cars, in 2022, have a “Bluetooth” option you can now pair with your cellular device in order to look at a map of directions by the radio of the car rather than having to pick up your phone, unlock it, and find the directions you need, all while neglecting the task at hand, driving safely. Another good driving tip is to make sure all mirrors and sounds within the car are to your liking so you aren’t fidgeting with them on the road. And finally, the most important preparation task in my books, if you are or plan to be intoxicated before having to drive, find someone to drive for you. A designated driver saves lives. This way operating a vehicle impaired is not a threat to you or others on the road.

A story to back the ideas presented above is one of my own. When I was eight years old, my mother got into a car accident with me and my sister because of impairment. Now this wasn’t drug impairment or alcoholic impairment. This was weariness. She came and picked us up from my grandmother’s house at 7 AM, after a 12-hour shift of work. She told us (me and my sister) later on that she was so tired she could barely see the road, but she was more worried about getting home so she could go to sleep than thinking of her safety, and ours, before she drove. Had she stopped and took a small nap, an hour, 20 minutes even, she could have prevented an accident from happening that day.

The step I took to become a better driver was a defensive driving course in February of 2022. I learned a lot from my time there and feel as if others would learn the same course. The course teaches how to drive, what to look for while driving, and how to properly check your car prior to driving so that you are using a safe moving vehicle. Another step I can take is relaying my accident with others. Sharing my story and experience as a survivor of an impairment related accident, or even sharing the stories I learned of in the course I took.

Because dangerous driving habits and fatal crashes are on the rise in America, we as people need to be more aware of the accidents that occur and the reason they happened. At birth, individuals are taught right from wrong and grow their character through experience. The consequences of a poor action led many to stray from repeating the offense. Educating others with relatable and understandable material is a detrimental part of learning. And learning the facts and stories related to distracted driving in a relatable way can really deter individuals from making poor driving choices, leaving them with one thought in mind, “What would happen if drove distracted?”.