Growing
up in the ever-growing state of California, I was accustomed to
crawling highways littered with accidents. Because of this, I grew a
large fear of driving and vowed to never take the wheel unless
necessary. I mean, there were other forms of transportation, right?
The average human is gifted with a working pair of legs that could
walk, run even! Nonetheless, at the ripe old age of 17, I broke down
and finally decided that I wanted to learn how to drive and get a
license.

As
a teenager in the United States, one of the basic rites of passage
into adulthood is knowing how to drive. This “necessity” drove my
thirst for wanting to get behind the wheel and the gift of
independence that follows the acquirance of a driver’s license was
an extra bonus. Despite this, the dangers of driving that once
haunted my young mind remained and will continue to stay as long as
careless drivers and our human brains are allowed behind the wheel.


As
much as we may not like to admit it, our brain is prone to many
inadequacies, it’s merely a part of being human. The very make-up
of our brain fails us when it comes to our ability to focus on our
surroundings and, more specifically, the road, as seen with
inattentional blindness, the failure to notice seemingly obvious
objects due to being distracted. This is just one of the reasons why
drivers ed is vital to the well-being of the driver and others
who share the road. By properly educating the public in the necessary
risks and precautions that can be taken while driving, as well as in
the laws and general “rules of the road,” the number of accidents
and related deaths decreases significantly.

While
I have not personally been in a car accident, I have known others who
have. These stories became a large part of my initial fear of
driving, as, many times, irresponsible drivers were the cause of the
accident. Overall, this increases the importance of drivers ed
not only for oneself but for others as well. While it’s easier said
than done, merely paying attention to your surroundings does a great
deal to remain safe on the road. Not only this but maintaining a
distraction-free environment while driving also increases the safety
of the road. Some simple, but necessary precautions that can be taken
to increase the overall safety are to turn off any phones or other
distractions, as well as to make sure one is not driving under the
influence. These are vital for those under the age of 21, whose
brains are not yet fully developed and are more prone to distractions
and poor choices.

For
the safety of our roads and our everyday lives, responsible driving
is a must. With car accidents killing more people a year than most
major wars, it’s time that we stop and think who the real threat is
and how we can stop it.