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One minute I was glancing out the window watching the countryside pass by, listening to music on a bus with my lacrosse teammates, the next minute my head was smashed into the seat in front of me, the victim of a multi-vehicle distracted driving accident. 
Driving is a wonderful freedom to be unlocked in young adulthood, but this does not come without risk. In 2024, there were around 42,514 deaths in the United States due to car accidents. Proper driver education can prevent these tragedies because it ensures new drivers understand road rules, reducing reckless behavior. Defensive driving education lessens the chances of car accident deaths, helping drivers anticipate potential hazards, react appropriately, and avoid collisions altogether.
In 2022, I was in a terrible bus accident while on the way to play a lacrosse game at a neighboring school. The small bus ahead of mine was sideswiped by a distracted driver whose vehicle crossed into the wrong lane. The bus driver swerved to try to avoid the car and flipped onto its side, sending the passengers tumbling. Next, the distracted driver careened straight into the bus I was in head-on. All my teammates and I suffered injuries. I had a severe concussion and whiplash and was unable to attend the end of year activities at my school. It was a terrible accident, and miraculously no one was killed. I had been planning to learn to drive that summer, and had really been looking forward to it, but after the crash I was too nervous to get behind the wheel. I didn’t trust that I would be able to keep others on the road safe enough. It took me a year of healing and months of driver's education to finally get over my fears. When I finally earned my license, I was proud and determined to take the responsibility seriously. I came close to death because of a distracted driver and will never take the importance of safe driving for granted.
There are several steps everyone should take to be better and safer drivers. Learning and following all traffic laws is the first step. Participating in a defensive driving course is an excellent idea for practicing driving technique. Avoiding distractions is one of the more vital steps. A driver should keep their cell phone away while driving, perhaps in a zipped bag or in the glove box, to stop the driver from reaching for it. Another important aspect of making the roads safe is keeping a safe following distance from the car ahead of you, always making sure the car ahead of you is at least three seconds away from yours. A good way to do this is by counting how many seconds it takes for you to reach a landmark that the car in front of you has just passed.  If it is less than three seconds, you are too close to avoid an accident if the car in front slams on their breaks. When I model safe driving practices I create a norm for the people around me, such as my little brother who just got his permit. I encourage all drivers to think of themselves as teachers when younger people are in the car. It's also important to remember it is always okay to speak up if a person who is driving the vehicle you are in needs to slow down or focus on the road.  If you ever feel unsafe when someone else is driving, let them know and encourage them to change the behavior.
Driving safely is not only an important responsibility for your own health and safety, but it is vital to protect all lives out on the road. My experience as a victim of distracted driving has taught me the severity and consequence of being reckless behind the wheel. I count myself as lucky that I walked away from that accident, but I know that it changed me forever. All my teammates and our coaches were impacted that day, but it could have been far worse. By following the road laws and making it a personal obligation to keep your phone away while operating a vehicle, countless lives can be saved. Driving is an incredible opportunity for freedom, but it is also a monumental responsibility.  Drivers must always be intentional and alert while driving. Through education and holding those around you accountable for fostering safe driving habits, we can make sure that preventable deaths and injuries do not happen.