Better People, Safer Roads

Distracted driving is one of the most important issues plaguing our society to date. It is a prevalent, reoccurring issue that has taken the lives of far too many. However, there is a way to rectify this issue. By altering the impact drivers ed plays in our lives, taking steps to reduce incidents as a community, and taking steps as individuals, we can all make our country a safer and better place to live.

Driver education can be one of the most essential tools in reducing the number of driving-related deaths if it is used properly. The current system is quite effective in teaching the masses the basics of safe driving, but it doesn’t have to stop there. Possible editions to the driving exam such as a "risks of distracted driving" exam will be relatively simple to implement and emphasize the importance of these modern-day issues. Continuing a tradition of education could drastically reduce driving-related incidents, as staying informed is the best tool we have to protect our community.

Once drivers have been adequately educated there is little, we can do to affect each driver directly, however, there are many steps we can take to protect the community. As of now, there are many options to avoid distracted driving, from applications to alerts. However, these options are severely underused. As a community, it would be a monumental step if we were to make a promotional campaign to make light of these options. Displaying how the temporary disabling of phones, and other devices from being used outside of GPS will protect children and others, citizens will see the benefits and related it to their own families. Inspiring action in today's world requires incentives that force people to look in on themselves.

I speak with such assertiveness on this issue because it is one that has affected me directly. In early August, I was celebrating my girlfriend’s birthday with her and her friends. Our driver was a friend of hers, an eighteen-year-old girl who had just gotten her license a week prior. While driving on the highway, a deer ran across the road. Despite the deer stopping severely feet from the vehicle, our driver was startled and swerved. The car spun multiple times before flying off of the road into an embankment. No one was hurt, but I immediately understood why that incident occurred. That driver was uneducated. This is why drivers ed is important. We must prepare legal drivers for common situations such as this one if we want anything to change. If we don’t act, more uneducated drivers will experience events like this, and they might not be as lucky as we were.

To become a better driver myself and protect others, I can start educating those around me. Letting my friends and family know the dangers of distracting driving and how they can protect themselves, will improve both me and them. We can all lead by example and make our roads a safer place.