“Oh my God!” both my parents shouted simultaneously. Their exclamations were for two different reasons. My mother was convinced we had just been hit by the concrete truck that was turning right next to us. My step-father, on the other hand, was watching a white sedan flip and roll into a ditch. Without hesitation, he leapt out of our car and ran to assist the occupants of the car. He literally ripped off the door and rendered assistance until the ambulance arrived. I remember my mom frantically calling 911 for help and I remember watching the driver of the other car in hysterics because she thought she had just killed someone. Thankfully, everyone in both cars would recover from the accident. Weeks later, my step-father found himself offering aid to another individual who was in an accident. While my step-father was headed to work, he approached a burning car. The driver was already out of the car but was badly injured. My step-father performed CPR, but unfortunately, the young man died before medics arrived. Both of these situations were caused by distracted drivers. The driver of the white sedan was impatient and turned left even though he couldn’t see beyond that concrete truck. And the young man who died in my step-father’s arms was hit head on by a driver who was texting and driving. Both of these accidents were 100% avoidable had the drivers only implemented training they learned in driver’s education classes.
Driver’s education is imperative in helping young drivers learn proper safety precautions. Most young drivers think they are immortal and indestructible and most teenagers think they already know how to drive. However, as proven by national data, traffic fatalities among young drivers is the second leading cause of death among those 15-20 years of age. Personally, I think driver education is not comprehensive enough for most teenagers. In South Carolina, teenagers are required to take an eight-hour class followed by six hours of drive time with a certified instructor. The lessons and skills taught during driver education are invaluable and help create safe drivers; unfortunately, a majority of young drivers only implement those lessons for a brief time, long enough to pass the test. After they become licensed drivers, they experiment with higher speeds or texting while driving. I think teen drivers need yearly refreshers on safety protocols for at least three years after they initially become licensed drivers. I know that most teenagers would balk at the idea of having to take more driving classes. However, teenagers need continuing education classes to remind them the dangers of distracted driving. I also think that continuing driver’s education classes should be required every five or ten years. Adults sometimes think they are skilled drivers just because they have been driving for years. But, I frequently see adult drivers who are texting, reading, applying make-up, or eating while driving. I also see adults speeding and failing to use turn signals. Most jobs require continuing education for employment, so I don’t see why requiring drivers to take refresher courses every few years would be an issue. Afterall, if safety is a concern, then we have to push to make it the priority.
When I was a young girl, I went to school with a girl named Logan. Logan was always happy and outgoing. But one day, Logan came to school very sad and I asked her what was wrong. She told me how much she missed her sister, Meagan. Logan told me how her sister was killed in a car accident a few years prior. I told my mom about Logan’s sister and my mother explained that Meagan was trying to rush home late one Halloween and went through the train crossing guards and was hit and killed by the train. Logan’s mom became very active in the national program Alive at 25. The school where my mom use to teach, made the Alive at 25 program a requirement for all students who wished to park on campus. I think programs like Alive at 25 are invaluable and should be required of all young drivers. The Alive at 25 program helps remind drivers of the lasting impact that distracted driving can have, not only for themselves, but for their loved ones who have to cope with the devasting consequences of their choices.
Besides continuing education for drivers and the Alive at 25 program, there are other ways to help reduce the number of car accidents and fatalities. Simple solutions such as hands-free laws in all states could significantly reduce the number of motor vehicle deaths each year. Currently, 24 states have hands-free laws and a few other states have laws restricting teen drivers from using phones while driving. According to several studies, hands-free laws have helped to reduce the number of deaths each year. Even if only one life is saved, that is a life worth saving.
Safe driving needs to be a priority. I know personally, I have made poor choices as a teen driver and I can work to be a safer driver. At times, I go too fast and need to be better at using my cruise control to regulate my speed. When I first started driving, I put my phone in my glovebox while I was driving so I wouldn’t be tempted. I’ve become lackadaisical and need to return to this safe driving technique. And while I haven’t been in an accident yet, studies show that I more than likely will be in one sometime in my lifetime. But I can have some control over those statistics if I just make little changes. Little changes can have a big impact and those changes have to start with me.