Not Worth It

Although the only car accident I’ve been involved in was getting rear-ended by a distracted driver on a rainy day, I have found my scariest moments in a vehicle to be my near-crash experiences. For example, my friend Frank was driving us to the mall one day. He was so distracted by trying to fix the GPS that he entered the mall at a spot marked “Do Not Enter.” We nearly crashed into a car that was trying to pull out. Although we were thankfully all okay, I realized how easy it is to lose your life in a car accident.

I asked Frank why he did this: Didn’t he learn in driver’s education class not to use his phone while driving? He told me he often didn’t pay attention in his drivers ed classes. Although drivers ed provides the tools, experience, and necessary knowledge to teach young driver’s the rules of the road and how to safely operate a vehicle, it seemed like he had wasted this experience by being uninterested.

I think the number of deaths related to driving could be greatly reduced if drivers ed is promoted, encouraged, and required across the United States. As of now, only 32 states require teen drivers to take a drivers ed course before they get their license. If all 50 states adopted this requirement, there’s no telling the amount lives that could be saved. Further, if state educational departments required that students pass driver’s education before they can graduate high school, even more teenagers would have access to proper driving knowledge and would be overall safer drivers.

My experiences in the car with Frank have helped illuminate the steps I can take to help others (and myself) become a better driver. With the presence of technology, it is becoming even easier to be a distracted driver. Instead of insisting on controlling the GPS or radio yourself, have a passenger help control these features. If that isn’t possible, you can take advantage of the technology available to us by investing in a Bluetooth or wireless system that allows for voice activated controls. No life is worth more than a text, the right directions on a GPS, or a higher volume on the radio.