“In 2022, 3,308 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes that involved distracted drivers” (NHTSA, 2024, pg 1.). This is a major issue that affects the regular everyday person. There have been many experiences in my life where I have witnessed family members and friends that have been a victim of distracted driving due to mobile devices. When I was getting my license, there was a video that was required to be watched before taking your permit test. It was a video of people that had been in crashes due to distracted driving and how their lives were affected because of it. That video will forever stick in my brain. I remember one girl saying that she never thought it would happen to her. It opened a new perspective for me. We really do not see how it would affect us until we are reaping the consequences. I believe this is what is important about driver education. Bringing new perspectives to those that are unaware or close-minded. By doing this, it will help reduce the amount of deaths that are caused by driving everyday.
One step that could be taken is to reduce the number of years that is allowed to renew a license. By doing this, it will be required to refresh the basics of driving that people tend to forget when they drive for many years. This is something that is already being enforced in states like Texas but not states like Arizona. I am originally from Arizona. When I first received my license, the expiration date was 60+ years before I had to renew it. This was common, as the licenses of family members and friends were the same way. I recently moved to Texas a few years ago and I was utterly surprised to see that I needed to renew my license every 8 years. As I thought about it, it made more and more sense. I realized this allows for the state to see that you are able to still remember and understand the basics of driving and laws of the road.
I have experienced being in a fender bender but never a major car accident. Even being in a fender bender was a scary experience. Many of my family members have been in car accidents though. I remember one time where my dad was in a really bad car accident when I was younger. My mother was terrified because she had received the call about him being in a car accident. We stayed home from school that day and were supposed to be going to watch the new “Wreck It Ralph” movie. My dad came home in a lot of pain because of the accident and his car was completely totaled due to the crash. We in fact did not see the “Wreck It Ralph” movie that day. I have also witnessed family and friends driving irresponsibly and it always makes me nervous for them on the roads because of it.
One step I can take to be a better driver on the road is to be considerate of others that are on the road. By letting someone into the same lane when there is traffic or letting someone go first at an intersection can help to make the roads safer. As well as, not being a distracted driver myself. There are moments when I am trying to change the music on my phone for the car but those are the moments where I can be the most distracted. By minimizing those moments, it allows me to be safer on the road and to other people around me. I can help my family and friends by reminding them about the consequences of being a distracted driver on the road as well. There have been many moments where I have seen other people driving around me that are actively distracted by their mobile devices while on the road. It shows through their driving. Many times, I have witnessed cars swerving or cutting other cars off and when I pass them, they are on their phones and not paying attention. I am always saddened by this because I know at any moment, that could cause a very dangerous incident. They are putting people at harm that may have been trying to get to work or take their children to school. Overall, it is important that we take proper actions on a daily basis to make sure that we are being safe and keeping others safe on the road.