When I was in eighth grade I took drivers education classes to obtain my school permit since I lived in the country. It was a right of passage for me at the time, and I started my driving journey very cautiously as I knew the privilege could be taken at any time. I would park in a separate lot at school because my parents were aware of the amount of accidents that happened in the primary lot. In reviewing the statistics for the number of deaths as a result of driving, as well as seeing first-hand how others, especially those of a young age, drive I think it is important to continue and grow drivers education so that we can increase the safety of all drivers as well as offer incentives for good driving habits.

To help reduce the number of deaths related to driving, we can try a multitude of things. Currently, we have technology that allows parents to track where their children are. Life 360 is a program that my family uses to help keep track of each other because of where we live. There are a lot of curvy roads and treacherous landscapes where an accident could easily happen. It decreases the response time, if we can locate each other in case of emergency. What if we used technology to help prevent accidents before they happened. There is already technology that helps cars drive themselves and detect whether there are things in the course of passage. If we increased incentives for car manufacturers to improve safety and technology within newly manufactured cars or help create technology that could be added to current vehicles we could reduce accidents or fatalities. Entrepreneurs or innovators of any kind could assist car manufacturers in creating this type of technology that would benefit all and be the type of technology any parent who worries about their child out driving would love to have.

I know of a lot of unsafe student drivers, if there were incentives for driving more cautiously, or repercussions for those who have violations it would also increase safe driving habits. Patrolling areas in which student drivers are and providing educational opportunities where they are at would go a long way at promoting safety. Most of the students I know would not want to go to extra class, and would do what they could to avoid it. When I was a kid, the boat I was riding in was pulled over by a fish and wildlife service warden. When they noticed I was safely wearing my required life jacket, I was rewarded with a Dairy Queen ice cream certificate. Using more incentives could potentially decrease reckless driving. While we have tickets to discourage reckless driving, I do not think it is enough. Too many parents hand over the money without very much accountability for the student as it is easier. We need to incentivize the experience for these students so it is related more to a positive experience for them. If we teach people to drive safer as a young person it will carry over into adulthood.

I mentioned above that I live in an area that does not have a lot of flat straight roads. I was on my way to school to meet a bus for a wrestling meet one early morning. I took a corner a little too fast and my truck went off into the ditch where it rolled. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and thankfully I did not have even a scratch thanks to my seatbelt. My great grandfather’s truck was totaled though, and I was left without a vehicle for quite a while. A teenager never likes to listen to their parents, and unfortunately that was a lesson I learned well. My parents had been telling me to slow down more for corners, but because I was in a rush, I disregarded their recommendation. Having outside sources help educate our students about safe driving may go further than having parents try to help their students. I had a drivers ed teacher that really gave me a lot of confidence in my driving and I listened to her and her recommendations a lot more than my parents who guided me in more than just my driving.

Since my accident, I have worked to become a safer driver. I have slowed down for corners, regulated my speed, and work to set a good example for my peers. My parents have loaned me a previous business vehicle that still has our business logo on it. They have reminded me that I am representing them in all that I do and it is a good reminder to also drive safely.