It was midday when a routine drive home with my sister became a moment I would never forget. She needed some things for the birthday party she was going to, and I was in a good enough mood that day to drive her. On the way home, I thought about all the different things I still had to do, plans I had to worry about, and tests that had to be studied. I had made this drive home about 100 times before, but as I turned right, a car came racing down the left lane, hoping to beat me and quickly changed into my lane. He didn’t quite make it, and as he was changing lanes, he clipped the front of my car and spun out onto the sidewalk on the right. At that moment, after I saw that my sister was ok, the other driver was ok, and I was ok, I started to worry about the insurance cost and the damages my mother would have to worry about, and I felt like I was a failure. If I had known at the time that 34,000 people die in the US each year because of car accidents, I would’ve just been grateful that my sister and I were still healthy and alive. This accident served as a wake-up call, showing me the importance of staying focused on the road and how essential comprehensive driver education and government involvement are in preventing such incidents.



After my accident, I spent the following days obsessively thinking about how it could’ve been avoided. In my time of reflection, I remember how easy it was to pass my first driver's test, which tests your knowledge of the rules of the road. Answer 16 of the 20 questions right, and you pass. The 20 questions were all relatively easy, and the hard ones had nothing to do with road rules, but fines and penalties in different situations. I wondered how those questions helped someone become a better driver. I began researching other countries’ driver's license processes to satisfy my curiosity. In Canada, my country of residence, you must pass a written G1 test, which are fairly simple rules to be studied, a G2 test, which is your driving test with an instructor, and then your G test, which is driving on the highway. After your G2, you have almost all freedom to drive, including on the highway, but you have five years after to get your full G license or else your driver's license expires. In the US, it is similar to where you must pass written and road skills tests, but instead of a second road test, they incorporate a vision test. While these road tests should be working, between Canada and the US in 2023, there were an estimated 43,000 motor vehicle deaths. Why were these driving education systems not working when put in place? Simply put, more realistic driving education is essential for improved driver safety.



I then came across Norway, which had the lowest motor vehicle fatality rate in the world as of 2020, with an astounding 17 fatalities per million inhabitants. Additionally, since 2010, Norway has cut the number of traffic fatalities by nearly half. Why was this? The Norwegian government introduced a four-year “Vision Zero” strategy emphasizing the country’s commitment to road knowledge and ensuring a simple navigation system that makes transportation easier. The Norwegian government understood that safer transportation is a team effort and does not solely rely on drivers. Still, instead, all levels of government are working together to develop better vehicle technology, targeted enforcement, and involvement from private and public organizations. Most importantly, after years of studying data, Norway implemented a fully integrated test approach that addresses 13 different driving areas, covering various topics such as driver behaviours, risk groups, vehicle technology, and work conditions. I was struck by how their comprehensive driver education and road planning go hand-in-hand to promote safety, with a clear focus on simplicity and uniform driving expectations. The most important thing to take away from Norway’s Vision Zero strategy is that the responsibility of safe driving rests not solely on the driver’s shoulders but also on the country's road builders and rule makers. There are many actionable steps other countries like Canada and the US can take to move towards a goal similar to Norway’s Vision Zero strategy:



Adopt a clear, ambitious safety goal (i.e. zero traffic light-related accidents)


Redesigned roads with an emphasis on safety


Lower Speed limits in high-risk areas


Strictly enforce traffic laws


Promote and leverage advanced vehicle technology





After learning about Norway’s vision zero strategy, I reflected upon my accident. I remembered how I blamed the other driver for driving irresponsibly and assumed he placed some fault on me for not seeing him try to change lanes. Then I wondered what would happen if the rules of the road were made clearer or simpler to abide by. The street where I got into the accident is often busy with traffic, and people are constantly trying to make a right on that street when there is little time to do so because of the traffic. Additionally, the intersection is so big that if you wanted to turn right on the next street, it is almost impossible to get into the right lane without changing lanes in the intersection, which causes many accidents near that road. Just the week after my accident, there was a similar accident in the same spot and one more a month later. After learning about this, I wondered what was so dangerous about this particular street and why everyone seemed to have trouble driving safely on this road. One of the issues is the lack of safe driving practice. Through improper driving education, many drivers have lost the ability to drive safely. So what steps can be taken to avoid this nationwide?



The answer to this question relies not entirely on the driver but also on our road makers and governments. I now plead with my government, as well as governments across the world, to consider making driving simpler. We should emphasize tests that incorporate more road knowledge and make it so that it focuses on vehicle technology and getting all drivers on the same page when on the road. While doing this, governments should also constantly focus on making their streets safer and more straightforward. Simplicity is the key to safer roads. 



Reflecting on my experience, it's clear that safer roads require a shared commitment between drivers and policymakers. While individual responsibility is crucial, it's equally important for governments to create clearer, safer, and more efficient traffic systems. After my accident, I focused more on avoiding distractions, adhering to speed limits, and educating friends and family about safe driving. We can save lives by improving road design, driver education, and smarter regulations. Let’s prioritize safety and simplicity on the road, ensuring no one else faces the consequences of preventable accidents. Together, we can drive towards a safer future. Through this experience and my own driving experience, I’ve committed to becoming a safer driver and advocating for clearer, safer road systems that prioritize simplicity and save lives.