Evelyn
Chen

3,700
Lives

Tick.
Tock.

Glass
shatters, shards cartwheeling through the air. Brakes screech, rubber
screaming against the pavement. Metal crunches against metal,
crumpling instantly.

Tick.
Tock.
All
it takes is one second for a car accident to end a life. According to
the Association for Safe International Road Travel, on average, 3,700
people die every day on the roads.

This
is a staggering statistic. However, drivers ed is the key to
reducing these deaths and creating a safer future, as most of these
accidents are entirely preventable.
First,
reducing distractions is key. According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, in 2018, distracted driving resulted
in 2,841 deaths. Cell phones are a major factor in this distracted
driving. It is incredibly important that drivers remember to silence
their phones, and take advantage of settings such as “do not
disturb” to minimize the temptation to check while driving.
Additionally, implementing laws to ban the usage of phones while
driving will further disincentivize potential distracted driving.


Secondly, drivers need to follow the rules
of the road. Over time, many experienced drivers grow more willing to
cut corners, such as not signaling when changing lanes, or rolling
through stop signs in neighborhoods. Drivers ed is key to
reminding drivers of specific laws they must abide by. Having
stricter enforcement of said laws through harsher fines and
penalties, or the implementation of technologies such as red light
cameras, will help to further create positive change.

Many
years ago, while driving home from a friend’s house, my mom’s car
got caught on black ice. Our car spun out into a ditch. I will never
forget the drop in my stomach, as sheer terror overwhelmed my body as
we careened out of control. Thankfully, there were no injuries or
fatalities. But I am always keenly aware of the possibility of danger
while driving, even years later.

Through
taking simple measures, such as remaining distraction free and
reviewing and following the rules of the road, every driver can
promote a safer environment. Together, we can reduce the 3,700 lost
lives every day and create a safer road for everyone.