It isn’t hard to believe that driving is dangerous. These huge machines going at amazing speeds can become very threatening when used the wrong way. But what some people fail to realize is that the risk becomes much higher when young drivers are involved. Automobile accidents have consistently been one of the leading causes of death among teens. We need to take further action to make sure everyone has the ability to drive safely.

One of the best ways to avoid this travesty is to ensure teens learn their driving skills from people who maintain safe driving habits. While just asking a parent or friend to demonstrate how to drive may be easy, Experienced drivers tend to be less cognizant of what they are doing. Patterns that have been picked up over the years or a more relaxed attitude towards safety can be subconsciously transmitted to the learner. This is why specific drivers’ education, with certified teachers, can be so beneficial. Having an instructor who has to constantly review safety protocols and demonstrate good habits allows them to be more aware of what they are doing behind the wheel, and are thus able to address bad habits in their pupils before they become routines. In addition, these teachers have more knowledge of how new drivers approach their vehicle, making it easier for them to figure out the most risky mindsets surrounding driving, which can be combatted before they even hit the road. At every step of the process, the guiding hand is ready to step in and direct these drivers to the safest ways to drive.

Even with good instruction, however, teens are also influenced by the people around them, and that may encourage poor driving. It could be a parent who regularly forgets to use their turn signals, which in turn encourages the teen to ignore theirs. It could be a friend who regularly brags about speeding, glorifying the rush and hiding the danger. Or it could be a video they saw of people doing stunts in their car, without the appropriate warnings and explanations of why only trained professionals should attempt those maneuvers. Everyday experiences and the environment around us will continually shape our perception of the world, whether we realize it or not.

This actually caused an interesting experience when I started driving. In my case, much of my prior knowledge about cars was from watching my parents drive. I didn’t watch many action movies, and was never into racing. The little I had seen, however, tended to be short, dramatic clips meant to energize a car chase or promote a new car. The practical was hidden, because it was assumed you knew what normal driving was. Unfortunately, I did not. Even watching my parents, there were some things I couldn’t see. Things that flashy action sequences and daring commercials loved to use to add tension, by purposely deviating from the norm. In short, I never realized you were supposed to keep your heel on the floor when pushing pedals. At this point, I had only been practicing with my mom, who was much more attentive to my inconsistent acceleration than the reason behind it. It was only after numerous struggles to balance the pressure I was putting on the gas pedal and regulate the speed that it took to press on the brake that I explained in detail what I had been doing. Finally, she was able to guide me on how to properly operate the vehicle. Since I couldn’t see where her foot was when she drove, I had no frame of reference for how I should be doing things. There are many examples where new drivers simply don’t know what they don’t know. That’s why it’s so important to encourage teens to ask questions, and the adults to pay attention to what they do to provide better explanations. My parents have regularly pointed out the things they do when they’re driving and why, and I make sure to highlight important aspects of road safety when I reply to show that I understand. We make it a conversation, which encourages all of us to pay more attention to what we do on the road.

This level of awareness should be encouraged not only within the families of driving teens, but throughout their communities. Athletes face risks every game, but there are multiple people looking out for them: coaches that teach the safest way to play, fellow teammates that train with them, referees that stop hazardous actions before they become accidents. Even the spectators are hyper-aware of the dangers, and will be in full support of players stepping off the field if they seem to be struggling. When driving, however, I’ve heard anecdotes about people being more aggressive towards student drivers, trying to show them the “real road”. We should make that true experience better, not worse. If each person can spare a thought for the example they set, maybe that tragic figure can be eliminated completely.