At six years old, I was in the front seat of my dad’s truck as we drove from Logan, Utah to Bear Lake. Near the end of Logan Canyon, my dad fell asleep at the wheel, and we ran into a ditch. While I only suffered a seatbelt bruise, the emotional weight of that moment has stayed with me. As a child, I saw my dad as the strongest man I knew, but that experience showed his weakness, teaching me that even the strongest people have moments of vulnerability. It also changed my understanding of driving. It's not just driving, but it's something that comes with profound consequences when not taken seriously.
The human element of driving is easily influenced and can be improved. Knowledge and experience dictate our decision-making factors in road safety. These are areas where we have the most control to make a positive impact. While I don’t believe we can escape car accidents, I do believe with the proper education, guidelines, and laws, we can change the statistics. Globally, 1.3 million people lose their lives in car accidents every year. I believe we can change this. In my opinion, if we can focus first on education at the correct impressionable age and require continuing education we can create an avenue for positive change.
I took the driver’s ed course and sat in a course mandated by the State of Utah. Speaking boldly, my recollection of the information presented is minimal. Creating effective education that continues would require a multi-level strategy. First, I would choose to strengthen driver education programs by deepening and expanding the introductory educational course to multiple courses. Currently, my high school only offers 1 trimester course that includes 4 drive times with an instructor. As a new driver, I did not feel prepared for all the surrounding stimulation that came with driving. In Utah we are required to have 40 hours of drive time before being eligible for a driver’s license. This is supervised by parents. I have seen and heard of many peers cheating the system as this is not enforced or regulated outside of the home. We can do better. Due to lack of early experience, I would encourage yearly driving assessments or continuing education courses throughout highschool or until the legal age of adulthood.
Something that may also be effective is to create public awareness by having communities get involved in presenting various driving campaigns to high school students that focus on the consequences of driving rather than just the do’s and don’ts. I would suggest opening up such presentations to younger students as well, as they can have a profound effect and influence on parents and siblings that drive them around daily. One example I suggest would be to explore creating a simulation where a new driver and/or an experienced driver can experience first hand the dangers of impaired driving.
A prevalent issue that I am currently noticing and am experiencing among my friends and fellow students is a lack of road etiquette, and strong road rage. Unchecked anger can lead to accidents and unnecessary bodily harm. I would propose a “drive wise” program that would combine courses on how to share the road safely and teach tools to regulate emotional distress that is also supplemental to the current courses. I feel that fostering a culture of respect and responsibility would lead to less accidents and kinder drivers. Becoming a safer and kinder driver requires us to make an effort and be proactive. An idea may be to focus on preventative campaigns that can be presented through social media and signage through cities and states.
Education and emotion regulation aren’t enough alone. Vehicle preventative maintenance measures are critical. Regularly checking your brakes, tires, lights, and other important parts can prevent mechanical failures that lead to accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration an estimated 20% of accidents are caused by improper or lack of maintenance. An added course recommendation would be to have a mandatory car maintenance course that educates new drivers on the functionality of vehicles and how to address basic issues. In order to make a deep impact we have to change what we know and what we understand. Currently, the main driving course focuses on understanding road signage to navigate the road and understanding traffic laws and how to obey them. We need to broaden the scope of information being presented.
Going forward, I’m personally committed to becoming safer. My goal is to be a more intentional driver by humanizing my driving experiences and focusing on sharpening my awareness and skills. Research and writing this essay has helped expand my knowledge of vehicle safety. I love cars and driving and I want to drive fast but I need to do so safely! I plan to further my education by engaging in programs like defensive driver training and possibly even speed driving school to refine my abilities and improve my split second judgment. I believe these opportunities will help me personally to do my part in creating safer roads and equip me to make more thoughtful and informed decisions. I also recognize the critical importance of rest and will prioritize taking the time, even just 20 minutes, to recharge when I am feeling fatigued. Furthermore, I will work on approaching the road with kindness and patience, choosing to give others the benefit of the doubt. By fostering a spirit of respect and responsibility, I aim to contribute to a safer and more positive driving experience for everyone.
I understand that driving is both a privilege and a responsibility. The choices we make behind the wheel have a lot of rippling consequences. It impacts not only ourselves, but everyone we share the road with. Driver education plays a major role in reducing driving-related deaths by giving individuals tools and skills needed to navigate roads safely. My stance is that one educational course is not enough.
Personal experiences remind me of the variability of life and just how important road safety is. By committing to being safer drivers, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and countless others. I believe we can do more, learn more, share more, and experience more to make safer roads. It’s not just the victims that are affected, it’s everyone. If we all work to do just one degree better, the statistics positively change and in essence we change the world.