What I find strange about the accident and driving related death tolls in America is that, despite our collective awareness of how staggering the statistics are, most of us continue the same bad habits that cause these deaths because we falsely believe, “Well, it probably won’t happen to me, right?”. We all fall prey to this mindset at times—taking a hands-free call, glancing at a text, or bending traffic laws with the justification that “it won’t make a huge difference.” Some have even driven home after drinking, telling themselves, “I’m not that drunk,” or “I’ll be fine; it’s just a short drive.” Even though we know the facts, we easily fall into bad habits or make poor choices that can lead to preventable accidents.
I used to be one of those people; when I first started driving, I falsely believed that as long as I followed the rules and didn’t make too many mistakes, I would be okay. It wasn’t until my grandparents’ car accident that the dangers of driving became personal. My grandfather, the driver, started turning left as the traffic light turned green. An uninsured driver, speeding through a red light, crashed into their car, flipping it and leaving it totaled. Thankfully, my grandparents survived with scratches and bruises, but the emotional toll was heavy. My grandfather, shaken by the experience, never drove again after the accident. Even though I never witnessed the accident myself, my mom’s retelling of the story, as well as seeing how much pain my grandparents were in after the accident, showed me how dangerous driving can be.
The accident wasn’t just a random occurrence—it was a preventable tragedy. My grandpa, who has completed driver’s ed and earned a license, was unable to protect himself from the other driver. Had he double checked before going through the green light, he might have been able to avoid the crash. Likewise, had the other driver practiced defensive driving, he would have had the awareness to avoid speeding through a red light.
My grandparents’ accident is one reason why everyone needs to take their driver’s education to the next level and learn defensive driving. Defensive driving skills such as learning how to predict what other drivers will do, anticipating potential dangers, and managing risk are crucial in preventing accidents and can make the difference between life and death. In my grandpa’s case, if he had been taught to check for cars running the light, he could’ve avoided the uninsured driver and prevented the accident. Defensive driving should be mandatory for all drivers, because driving isn’t solely about following the law - it's about keeping yourself and your passengers safe while on the road.
When I first started learning how to drive, I remember that my mom taught me defensive driving along with the basics, and I’m incredibly grateful that she did. She taught me how to predict what other drivers might do, made sure I always put enough space between myself and other cars, constantly reminded me to check my mirrors, and always checked my phone to make sure the driving mode on my phone was on before we left. As annoyed as I sometimes was about how my mom nagged me about those things, in hindsight, it built excellent habits that have led me to become a great driver. I became much more aware of my surroundings, learned to successfully predict what other drivers will do, and react quickly and safely to sudden changes while I’m driving. In fact, not only did I avoid many accidents, my mom’s lessons in defensive driving also helped me pass my driver’s test with flying colors; I made only one mistake. My driving instructor even praised me for how well I checked my mirrors and how cautious I was of other drivers. To this day, I haven’t gotten a single ticket or been involved in any accidents, all because my mom taught me defensive driving in addition to regular driver’s ed.
As someone who has both experienced the benefits of defensive driving and witnessed the consequences of not knowing how to drive defensively, I believe that every driver must learn defensive driving in addition to driver’s ed. Learning how to avoid danger and prevent yourself from being a danger to others is essential to preventing accidents and roadside deaths. Defensive driving also fosters a culture of accountability and vigilance on the road, which is needed in order to keep ourselves and others safe; it prevents us from becoming a statistic. All in all, learning defensive driving needs to be mandatory, as regular driver’s ed has been proven to be insufficient. Mandatory defensive driving courses aren’t just an investment in individual safety—they’re a commitment to building safer communities.