Adequate driver education and experience is the most important factor in reducing deaths resulting from car collisions. I have many friends who just immediately hit the road the day they earned their license.Truth be told, a drivers licence does not accurately quantify a person’s ability to drive, as the difficulty of tests vary wildly. Some places may offer a test with many different parts and difficult criteria to pass, while others, like the one I tested at, offer a less-rigorous, fairly easy test that is frankly, hard to fail. To be honest, when I first received my license, I was nowhere near the skill level I needed to be a truly safe driver. To think that people with the same driving experience that I had just take to the roads after receiving their licenses is baffling. I truly fear for my friends who can barely even drive, but immediately get behind the wheel upon receiving their license. This is no doubt one of the reasons why driving accidents make up the highest number of teen deaths in America.
While online courses such as Georgia’s Joshua’s Law certification are beneficial to the knowledge and well-being of teens on the road, experience behind the wheel makes the biggest difference in safety. As I've previously stated, simply owning a license doesn’t accurately present somebody’s driving skills. Even after almost two months with my license, I still feel I’m not experienced enough to drive by myself. Increasing the amount of driving experience required to receive a license, or even raising the age from 16 to 17, could play a large role in decreasing vehicular deaths. Teaching defensive driving techniques and stressing the importance of paying attention would also decrease teen crashes. On the road, people need to remember that you’re not just driving for yourself, but for other people as well. When other people are driving aggressively and unsafely on the road, you need to take it upon yourself to ensure that you, and the other drivers make it home safely.
I personally have never been in a crash, but I know a couple friends that have. Among all of them, the common factor is a lack of attention to the road. One of my close friends was looking down at his phone, and in a split second, rear ended another driver sitting still at a red light. He had completely decimated the other driver’s rear bumper, and bent-up his own front bumper pretty badly. The man in the impacted car smashed his head on the steering wheel from the force. The repairs were very expensive, and his insurance company raised his rates by a large margin. It got so bad that his parents stopped paying his car insurance, and he is unable to drive until further notice. It really shows how a simple mistake can snowball into more severe consequences. Sometime earlier this year, one of my friends (Different from the previously mentioned one) hit a street lamp. He was driving to a party, and was trying to pop a pimple by looking at his mirror. Upon getting to the round-about, he overestimated his skills and tried to take the turn with his knees. He was unable to make the sharp turns of the circle, and tried to take back control of the wheel. It was too late, as he was already on a collision course with the street light. My friend had completely totaled his car and completely tipped the street light.Safe to say, his parents took away his driving privileges. Being aware of your surroundings and paying attention are key in preventing vehicle crashes. Lesser-experienced drivers should especially exercise their observation skills, and avoid doing risky things that deliberately take away the ability to take sharp turns and steer efficiently. Being on your phone or doing anything else to take your attention away from the road should be strictly avoided.
There are many steps that can be taken to become a better and safer driver. Ensuring that you pay more attention and take time to observe your surroundings is imperative to being a safe driver. Accepting criticism from more experienced drivers and incorporating tips you receive can also help. Despite driving with my parents being a sometimes harrowing experience, I know their nit-picks and critiques are what’s best for me. I am thankful for the opportunities they've given me to improve, as I wouldn't be close to the level I am now without their help. All in all, being a better and safer driver comes with experience.