Baby With A Knife

If a baby is given a knife, and it somehow manages to play with the blade for 30 minutes without hurting anyone or itself, it will come to believe that knives aren't actually that dangerous. But just because one has never experienced the pain of a knife doesn't mean knives aren't still dangerous. This is not about knives---nor babies, for that matter.

Children usually can't comprehend just how dangerous something is until they experience that danger or see it affect someone else. Lots of people know this, but did you know it's true for people of all ages, not just children?

It's true when it comes to food poisoning (have you ever seen anyone who hasn't gotten food poisoning worry about it?), wearing safety equipment (once you get a concussion, people who ride bikes with a helmet don't seem so cowardly anymore), and especially driving. If you're not thoroughly warned about the dangers of any given activity ahead of time, you will go in underestimating it and end up more likely to hurt yourself or someone else.

That's why driver's ed is so important. If people are thoroughly warned about all the possible dangers of driving before they even get into a car, then they are less likely to underestimate the dangers, leading to more careful drivers and, in turn, fewer deaths.

But, as it often is with humans, after a while of no visible danger or "close calls", any given driver is bound to get cocky. "I know how to drive." "I don't speed that much." "I'm careful enough." These reassurances lead to the lowered guards and lackadaisical attitudes that make lethal accidents. That's why I think routine reminders of the dangers of driving should be mandatory. They are clearly necessary. 

It's usually older drivers who've been driving for "10 years," or "20 years," or, the ever-favorite, "longer than you've been born," that speed, run red lights, and recklessly jump out in front of other cars. Typically, the young, fresh drivers are the ones who are more cautious. Is this because they lack experience to confidently fall back on? Perhaps, but I think it's also plausible that it's because they have all the warning of the dangers fresh in their mind.

If it takes a novice driver about two months of driving to get comfortable, and then one more to get confident, then policymakers should enforce quarterly "reminder" lessons---like how driver's ed is mandatory to get a license---that keep the dangers of driving fresh on every driver's mind. And if anyone doesn't want to deal with watching an hour-or-so-long video every three months, then that person can just choose not to drive. I think Spiderman said it best, "With great power comes great responsibility." If people want access to the great convenience that is driving wherever, whenever, then they must agree to the responsibility of keeping themselves informed at all times. A constant reminder of the dangers of driving should lead to reduced accidents, and, consequently, reduced driving-related deaths.

As for right this moment, though. There's no such law. But maybe you're feeling a little convicted now. Maybe you want to be more aware of the dangers of driving, but don't really want to put in the effort. Honestly, I can't blame you if you don't want to sit and watch yet another hour-long driver's ed video guilt trip you into thinking you're a child-killing maniac that hates the environment because you want to go 45 in a 40 (which is commonplace, but technically illegal). I get it; everyone gets a little lazy sometimes (myself included). In which case, just remember these basic principles whenever you drive, and you'll probably be alright: 

1. STOP (don't roll) at every stop sign.

2. DON'T try to beat the light (it almost always wins)
3. NEVER take your eyes off the road (things really do just pop up sometimes, namely children), UNLESS you are looking in your sideview or rearview mirrors (but then, you technically are still looking at the road, so.)

If you never experience an accident, it can be hard to truly understand how much damage they cause, both physically and mentally; it's hard to grasp, but they really do ruin whole lives in an instant. However, when you keep professional warnings fresh in your mind, even if you don't understand as intimately as someone who has first-hand experience, you get a better idea of the dangers, especially compared to someone who was never warned, making you better prepared and a safer driver. 

Even if you've never cut yourself, your parents' consistent nagging makes you think twice before handling a sharp knife carelessly.