Getting into your car and driving somewhere can be the most dangerous part of your day. Driver education is crucial in guiding all drivers between right and wrong driving practices. Bad behaviors such as distracted driving can extend from being on your cellular device while behind the wheel to just looking away from the road to change the radio and can cause an accident to happen in seconds. Negligent driving claims the lives of countless individuals and it really only takes one bad driver to take the lives of many. Although throughout the U.S., there are regulations put in place to ensure driving is as safe as it can be, it's still a huge issue in our society. Drivers ed should not only be enforced more on all drivers but there should also be more regulations whether it be more police enforcement or harsher punishment to those who are found guilty of poor driving practices. Being a young and new driver, I have analyzed all different types of driving. You have the individuals who weave between cars going 15 miles over the posted speed limit and you have other individuals going 15 under the posted speed limit weaving in and out of their lane. Both of these forms of driving are remarkably dangerous and leave everyone on the road anxious and aggravated. I’ve seen individuals who will run a red light just because they don’t want to wait for a cycle and others who will sit at a green light undoubtedly on their phone. Reckless driving appears in many ways and it is a danger to everyone on the road. It only takes one bad driver to cause an accident but when there’s so many individuals following similar dangerous practices, it makes our streets increasingly more scary to be on.

Technology has advanced in remarkable ways to encourage drivers who cannot disconnect from technology to stay online without risking their safety. Features like hands-free calling, voice-activated commands, and Bluetooth connectivity allow individuals to manage calls and messages without taking their hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. While many drivers believe that making calls or having your phone in your lap isn't inherently distracting, individuals today are so prone to checking their phone frequently that the one second they’re looking away from the road, can cause a life-changing accident. Hands-free technology addresses this by allowing drivers control over incoming calls, enabling them to decide when to engage in conversations, ultimately helping them stay informed and focused on driving without distraction, taking their eyes off of the road and the cars around them.
Some individuals argue that strict regulations limit an individual's freedom; however, it only takes one distracted driver to cause an accident. This is why driver education and regulations are so important because someone’s safety while commuting should take precedence over someone's desire to multitask between driving and being on their phone. The necessity for more regulations around sufficient driver education is evident. These regulations are crucial for enhancing road safety, protecting public health, ensuring legal accountability, and promoting responsible behavior among drivers. By implementing stricter laws and penalties, alongside effective educational campaigns and awareness initiatives, governments can address the dangers of reckless driving comprehensively. Additionally, consistent enforcement of regulations across jurisdictions is essential to create a safer driving environment for all road users. Therefore, policymakers must prioritize the implementation of more regulations surrounding traffic laws to mitigate the risks associated with distracted driving and ultimately save lives on the road.

Distracted driving significantly heightens the probability of car accidents creating a much more dangerous driving environment. Beyond mere distractions, being on your phone while operating a vehicle drastically diminishes reaction times, amplifies the likelihood of collisions, and endangers the lives of all road users. There are ways for individuals to redirect their attention and prioritize hands-free technological solutions over hands-on alternatives. By supporting hands-free options, such as voice-activated commands and Bluetooth, there are not only safer communication practices being done but it also effectively reduces distractions, which enables drivers to maintain their focus and attention on the road. Through these alternative technologies, individuals contribute to the overall safeness on the roads and to reducing the incidence of distracted driving-related accidents, thereby creating safer streets for the benefit and well-being of all. Driving doesn’t have to be such a dangerous activity. Taking steps such as putting your phone away while behind the wheel, following traffic laws such as the speed limit and traffic lights can help make our roads safer.