Five years ago, a day after Thanksgiving, I woke up to my mother receiving a call from my dad in the hospital. As I sat in confusion and silence on my bed, my mom let me know that my dad was involved in a car accident. From that moment, my family's life shifted upside down. The accident left my dad handicapped and unable to live the same life as before. He could no longer have a job as a taxi driver since the accident limited his leg and back function. My mom became the sole financial provider for the family. Being 13 years old, I couldn't work and help out my mom. Honestly, I didn't understand the situation to its full extent. As I got older, I found out that the accident happened due to my father's fault. He had a restless night of sleep and had to get up early for a scheduled pick-up from the airport. On his drive there, his night of no sleep prompted him to close his eyes momentarily, which led to the crash and accident. No one else was involved or hurt. If only my dad didn't prioritize his job over his health that day, would the outcome have been different?
There are many factors as to why a driving incident can occur. Being under the influence, lack of education, distracted driving, the weather, and exhaustion (as in my father's case.) What do all of these have in common? That the person behind the wheel decides the safety of themselves and others.
Phones have become a significant problem in driving. In today's world, it's common to see a parent, friend, or relative using it casually. They are the main reason for distracted driving and deaths in car accidents. The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year. In 2020, Teen Driver Source documents that there were 3,142 people killed and an estimated additional 324,652 people injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Although it's believed that only teenagers get into car wrecks because of distracted driving, we see people as old as 65 and above commonly getting into accidents because of phones. People will do whatever they want in their favor, regardless of what they are told or know if that's a habit. Young people are the most influential drivers there are. They take and absorb most things they hear and see. If we begin to teach them the dangers of driving under the influence and driving distracted, the leading causes of deaths in car accidents, it becomes a habit for them to avoid it as they get into their 20s, 30s, and so on. Focusing on younger age groups is easier because older folks will follow what they already know.
We can see this in effect with sex education in America for adolescents. Youths who are taught the basics of sex education in middle and high school demonstrate healthier sexual behaviors. There's been an increase in the rates of contraception usage, fewer unplanned pregnancies, and lowered rates of STIs and HIV. Comparing the statistics for these variables with other countries paints a clear picture. We see how much more teen pregnancy and STIs are common outside North America because of a lack of early education.
Driver education is vital in youth and adulthood, yet we see more of an out-turn with adolescence. I believe that teaching the basics of driving safety and driving laws in high school as a requirement will reduce the number of deaths caused by driving. Increasing funding for driver education programs can also reduce accidents and lower the death rate. In addition, we need to implement more laws/policies surrounding phone usage and driving. Having more educated, less distracted drivers on the road creates safer and more contained environments.
Personally, the best thing I can do to be a better and safer driver is to be aware of my surroundings, make sure I'm staying alert, keep safe distances from other cars, use my indicators, and buckle up. When I follow the rules and laws, it ensures the safety of others. If I see that a friend or family member is driving unsafely, I can always speak up and let them know the dangers of what they're doing. Sharing my father's story and its impact is very difficult because it still feels so surreal. However, the more stories about the traumatic side of driving accidents are shared, the more striking the cause becomes.