Drivers’ education is a very important factor in reducing the number of deaths from car accidents, but there’s more that can be done to improve its implementation. Drivers’ education is important because it not only teaches future drivers how to properly follow the rules of the road for their safety and the safety of others, but it also teaches them what is at stake and what kind of damage that they could do while driving recklessly. If taught with fidelity, it should radically reduce the number of deaths caused by vehicle accidents because it would reliably prepare future drivers to be safe and be smart while driving. This would improve driving for all because, while defensive driving would still be necessary, it wouldn’t have to be a priority like it is currently because more drivers would drive attentively. Drivers' education is instead simply used as a compliance mechanism in the United States. It is an extremely easy process to get a license. The driver's education test only has around 20 questions and for some classes you don’t even have to take a test. There is also a requirement of having 60 hours of driving logged with your permit, but that requirement is not truly enforceable as there is no way to know if the person actually has driven at all before, they have an unrestricted license. The fact that is it so easy to acquire a license means that more and more drivers are set loose on the road with a higher probability of being reckless and dangerous drivers. It would also mean that they are more distracted drivers as they would be more likely to be on their phone or zoning out while driving because they haven’t been properly taught the dangers.
I think that the best way to reduce the current number of deaths related to driving is to raise more awareness about driving under the influence and increase the availability of hands-free technology. Driving under the influence is one of the most prominent forms of reckless driving that there is in our country, whether it is driving while drunk or driving while under the influence of illegal narcotics. Increased awareness about these dangers could help lower vehicle-related deaths because it could remind those who would drive like this what is at stake to them and to the others on the road with them if they were to cause an accident. Another of the most common forms of reckless and distracted driving is using your phone while driving, which is where advancements in hands free technology comes in to play. Hands free technology is seen now in every new vehicle as it is a great form of convenience while driving and is an important safety feature. This technology isn’t seen as frequently in older models of cars. Even if that technology exists, it is very basic and not updated meaning it may not work or cover all of the needs necessary to be able to avoid being on your phone while driving. Most cars, including older cars, have the ability to speak through a car microphone and hear the phone audio through the speakers so that you don’t have to hold your phone. Some vehicles have the ability to dictate text messages so that you don’t have to type them out. This technology isn’t completely sufficient in order to stay off your phone as they won’t read off your text messages, give you the option to call someone from your contacts, or dictate properly as most of the time the words are wrong or simply not there because the software hasn’t been updated like the newer cars have been. This issue comparatively affects teenagers more than adults as most adults have the income to afford a better car with sufficient hands-free compatibilities, while teenagers are buying older used cars which don’t have sufficient technology. As a result, teenagers are more likely to be on their phone while driving because they do not display the patience or foresight to wait until they are no longer driving to read or respond to digital messages.
I myself haven’t been in a car accident, but I have multiple friends that I have seen drive recklessly and get into accidents. I have friends that were driving distracted and speeding or not looking that have caused accidents where they were liable. I have also seen a few of my friends drive recklessly, doing things like drag racing down a road in the middle of the day that could have caused an accident. I think I can help others become safer drivers by encouraging them to stay off their phone and pay attention while driving, and to encourage others as well to drive safely.