Each of Us Can Make a Difference in Driver Safety

2020 Drivers Ed Online Essay Contest

• What is the importance of drivers ed in reducing the number deaths as a result of driving?

• What steps can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

• Have you ever had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends or family members driving irresponsibly?

• What steps can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road?

Drivers ed is of absolute importance to reducing the number of U.S. driver deaths. Drivers ed properly instructs people on safely following the rules of the road, pre-driving procedure, and how to interact with other drivers. This education directly impacts driver safety. A study completed by the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 2015, which accounted for 150,000 students over 8 years, found that, “young drivers who have not completed drivers ed are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident”

The information in this study is clear, and the U.S. can certainly enact changes to improve driver safety. One step is to make drivers ed a mandatory class in high school and a requirement for acquiring a driver’s license. This would ensure every American completes the proper training protocols before driving. This would definitively reduce the number of accidents and fatalities per year, and America must take this type of strict measurement to produce the desired results.

I experienced a car accident just under two years ago in Los Angeles. I was driving at 35mph on a busy street and I saw the intersection ahead was green, so I continued. Right as I entered the intersection, I saw a car driving 40mph entering the intersection on my right. Less than a second later, the car is directly in front of me. We crash, the airbags pop, and I rebound off of them. My car ended up being totaled, and the security cameras showed immediately that the driver ran a late red light. Everyone was safe, though the opposite driver recklessly sped past a red light.

Things I can do to practice safe driving are to ensure the proper position of my mirrors, seat, and seat belt every time before driving. I can safely follow the law, maintain a solid distance from other drivers, be aware of pedestrian crossings, and to drive the speed limit. I never drink and drive and will continue to do so. I can influence my friends, family, and coworkers by respectfully informing them of safe driving principles. If I am driving with a friend, I can make sure they wear their seatbelt, advocate non drinking, and always be a designated driver. Additionally, phone usage is especially high in American youth while driving. Organizations such as the National Safety Council and the National Transportation Safety Board recommend that people not use their phones at all while behind the wheel. While not a standard everyone will follow, I can advocate friends and family to use car mounts and hands free modes.

By each person in the country being responsible, we can reduce the total number of driving related fatalities.