Help for Those Behind the Wheel

Natalia Porebska

Help to Those Behind the Wheel

In today’s world, society cannot imagine life without vehicular transportation. A lot of people on the road consider themselves to be good drivers. Driving you hear cars honking at others out of frustration, the hurry, and the belief that some drivers aren’t as good as others. Insurance is key in case of an accident but if an accident resolves in death then the insurance does not matter anymore. We are taught in the United States for a semester of sophomore year about driving and the safety of driving. But is that truly enough to make sure we are well prepared for the events awaiting drivers on the road? Perhaps the answer lies at the source, sophomore year of high school.

As learned earlier, the annual death on highways in the United States alone ranges from 40,000 to 50,000 people. Compare that data to the U.S. combat deaths from World War I which reached 53,402 people. Drivers ed in high school happens for one semester and it’s being given to 15-year-olds. Are such teens ready to go on the road? Sure it’s exciting to drive and to get the first car, but not necessarily safe. Drivers ed could happen sophomore year because it lines up with the schedules of students, but permits should be given at 16-17 and a license should be allowed at 18 like in Europe and many other countries around the world. Teens are more mature by then, after all, 18-year-olds are considered adults in countries around the world.

The DMV is also a problem when it comes to taking the driver's license test. When going to take my test I was extremely nervous. My sister took her test in Poland driving stick and had to take it a couple of times. I thought that’s what will happen to me although we don’t drive stick in the U.S. You take the test coming in your car. Why? If you’re an inexperienced driver who is willing to give their car for a driver's license test. Turns out, not a lot of people. The test consisted of me driving around one block with one stop sign and parking back in the DMV parking lot. It took five minutes, after all, it was one block. In those five minutes, I made at least four mistakes including not turning on my signal in the parking lot and asking the instructor if I can turn to the DMV on the lights. Even if I noticed that it didn’t go well for me, then why did the DMV give me my license? Obviously, since then I have driven more and became better, but to this day it seems rather strange and that should be changed. The test could still be short, but at least pick a trip in which there is more turning, more traffic, ask more questions about the rules of the road, ask everyone to park (they don’t ask everyone to park) and be more harsh about the decision.

Every time I drive I am still very nervous. There is a lot of people who got a license driving around one block and it’s scary to think that is how they passed. All my family members got their first drivers licenses back in Poland driving stick and where the test is much harsher and lasts at least 20-30 minutes, and is being done at the driving school with about 20 hours of on the road training with a one- on -one instructor ( hours may differ depending on the city). I believe my family members are good drivers. Driving was taken very seriously and none of them have been in an accident. That should prove my point. If that was the approach here in the U.S., then the statistics would be lower.

Driving with my parents I always listen to what they say. They have the experience and wonderful education, which is worth listening to. Whenever I have to drive somewhere by myself I keep in mind what my parents have taught me because the road is dangerous and I want to make sure I am as safe as possible in any situation.

It’s not just the drivers not paying attention to the road or drunk driving, which is also a problem that has enforced laws, but the source. The source here is not good and driving should be taken much more seriously, especially at the DMV. If someone is determined to drive, then they will do more traffic hours and passing the driving test at the DMV should a much harder, it is way too easy and the instructors shouldn’t be afraid to say “I’m sorry, you didn’t pass”. As much as we think that driving is a necessity in today's world, it is a privilege that the drivers here simply aren’t aware of.