Getting snacks? Easy peasy. Going out with friends? Amazing opportunity! Exploring independence and learning about what your area has to offer? Another wonderful opportunity of being a young American driver. Becoming the next headline for a distracted driving crash? Why would I even suggest that?
It is uncomfortable to talk about people who were killed in vehicle “accidents,” right? Well, it should be. There shouldn’t be over 21,400 people dead in just this year so far, and there shouldn’t be so many people who think they are immune to the consequences of their decisions. Those loved ones left behind shouldn’t have to live with the fact that if their family member had been driving responsibly, they would still be here today.
They call each incident an “accident,” but accidents don’t result from the conscious decision to do something irresponsible and reckless. Crashes are what happen—crashes are the result of a teen on their phone, an adult who is just “a little buzzed,” or a passenger who takes the driver's attention for just slightly too long.
Each time a person gets behind the wheel, they make a choice: to focus or to risk everything just to check their phone or grab an object they dropped between the console and their seat. Even before unlocking their car, they have already decided how they will be driving. Some think, I’m close enough to home, and I only had two drink, so it should be fine, right? Another is angry about a rude customer that came in five minutes before closing, and someone else is daydreaming about what they will order when they meet their family at their favorite restaurant.
Reducing the number of deaths means reducing the number of people who allow themselves to get behind the wheel in a compromised state. Everyone always says that driving drunk is bad—and of course it is—but they rarely acknowledge the other dangers, like high stress and emotional distress, which can take away just as much alertness as any substance. Overconfidence in multitasking while operating a two-ton machine is another major issue. A car doesn’t care if you’re distracted—it just keeps moving.
When I took my driving course at 15 years old, we were shown unfiltered footage of car crashes. Unrecognizable bodies, abandoned limbs, scraps of metal covered in blood, and families whose grief was palpable in the classroom. The instructor said it was meant to scare us—and it did. But fear wasn’t the only takeaway. It was, and still is, exactly what more people should be reminded of.
Currently, people over the age of 18 are not required to take any pre-test driving course. That is one of the first things that should change to reduce vehicle-related deaths. By making new drivers witness the real consequences of irresponsible driving—not just for the driver, but for innocent victims as well—there is a higher chance they will think twice before allowing their focus to slip.
I have never been in a fatal car crash—only minor bumps and scrapes—but even those were enough to realize how quickly a situation can escalate when a driver is not fully intentional with their choices.
In the winter of 2023, I was out of school with COVID-19. My mom, my dog, and I had just dropped my dad off at the doctor's office downtown and were finally leaving the congested city streets. While stopped at a red light, I lay in the backseat feeling miserable. Then, we were rear-ended. It wasn’t life-threatening, but the jolt was significant, and our bumper was left with a noticeable dent and scratch.
The cause? The driver behind us had been texting. My mom saw him looking down right before he realized, a little too late, that the light was still red. Because of his decision to text and drive, both parties had to waste time sorting out insurance details and assessing damage, all while he ranted about how he “worked for the news station” and was a “news reporter,” as if that somehow justified his distraction.
I have also seen my peers drive with their phones in their laps, their music so loud I wonder if their eyes shake from the speakers. Then there are the kids who race each other to the parking lot exit—nothing malicious, but still reckless. These behaviors may seem harmless in the moment, but they do have real consequences.
There are simple but effective steps that drivers can take to improve road safety before they even put their vehicle in drive:



Check your emotional and psychological state. Take a few minutes to ground yourself if you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or upset.



Assess your ability. If you have consumed any substance that impairs your ability to drive, find an alternative ride or ensure you are legally and physically capable of operating a vehicle.



Eliminate distractions. Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb” or place it out of reach. Adjust your music, mirrors, and seat before you start driving.



Passengers also have a role to play in promoting safer driving:



Set clear boundaries. If the driver is distracted, calmly remind them to focus.



Intervene when necessary. Never let a friend drive under the influence, no matter how much they insist they are “fine.”



Call out reckless behavior. It might feel uncomfortable to speak up, but it is far better than experiencing a tragedy.



A quiet, awkward ride home is always better than the sound of sirens.
By keeping yourself accountable as a driver and being a responsible passenger, we contribute to reducing vehicle-related deaths and improving safety for everyone around. Every person who gets behind the wheel makes a choice—not just about their own life, but about the lives of everyone they share the road with.
Distracted and reckless driving is a preventable crisis. Every decision, every moment of focus, and every act of responsibility behind the wheel matters. Choose safety over everything else.