Learning that there are more deaths in the US from car accidents than from wars is a startling fact. Until I read this on the dmvedu.org website, I did not realize that driving in America is more dangerous and deadly than being involved in combat. This speaks to the seriousness of attentive, sober, patient driving. I think educating the public about how the number of U.S. fatalities on our roads outpaces our war deaths is a meaningful statistic to educate Americans.

As a relatively new driver, I appreciate the how much ‘off road’ learning was involved and required for me to earn my driver’s permit. Like many of my friends, when preparing for my permit, I used an app that required 32 hours of learning road signs, driving speed, road conditions, following distance, and more. One of my main takeaways was learning to drive defensively, to constantly scan my surroundings and expect the unexpected. After the reading about how to drive, I felt much more prepared when I got behind the wheel for the first time to drive on a real road. I also think it was smart for current online driving schools to offer their driver’s education course and permit prep on cell phones since that’s how teens get most of their information and news.

What can be done to reduce the number of driving fatalities begs the question… is a stick or carrot more effective? The stick can be anything from huge financial fines for serious driving infractions to the loss of a driver’s license for a long, long time. I’m sickened when I see on the news about people with multiple DWIs who continue to drive and eventually kill someone. I ask myself why these people are not imprisoned and how could they possibly still have driving privileges. In April of 2023 a bride was killed in a golf cart leaving her wedding ceremony. She was mowed down by a drunk woman, Jamie Lee Komoroski, who was released on bond while she awaits trial. Given how our judicial system works, she is free to do whatever she wants for the next year or two until her trial. That seems so unfair given she deliberately drank alcohol and deliberately chose to drive, then killed a beautiful bride on the happiest night of her life. I do not think in cases like this that suspects should be allowed out on bond. In today’s Lyft and Uber world, it is easy get a safe, sober ride home. There really is no excuse to drink and drive. ‘Carrots’ for safe driving can include things like lower insurance rates, but in our reward-driven society, it might be very effective to have reserved parking for proven safe drivers. I picture a sticker or placard on a car that has gone X number of years accident- and ticket-free. It would be nice to publicly reward people for doing the right thing on our roadways, and it just might move the needle on people being safer drivers.

While I don’t have too much experience riding with unsafe drivers, it’s because I choose to drive most of the time. One of my closest friends has a small, turbo car that makes me feel unsafe. It’s jet black with blacked out windows, and I find it hard to see at night. The backseat is so squished, you must sit sideways to fit in it. I drive a light gray midsize SUV that I think is easier for people to see, especially in the dark. As a young child, I did have an experience that made an impression on me. My grandmother was 74 when I was 8. I started to notice that she swerved onto the shoulder and started missing stop signs, until she was ticketed for unsafe driving. Soon, she was diagnosed with transient ischemic ‘mini strokes’ and put on a blood-thinner. She wasn’t allowed to drive me and my brother anymore, and later had a series of major strokes so she stopped driving altogether. My grandfather is now 82 and just had his taken away because of multiple, small accidents. The DMV or DPS might want to consider road testing older people more annually to keep them and the public safe.

Some might say I’m controlling about driving since I think I’m a very safe driver. I make sure my car has always gas and safe tires, plus I am unusually patient for a teen driver. Another thing I do that I think is helpful is have a seat belt cover letting first responders know I am a Type 1 diabetic in case I am ever in an accident and unable to communicate. As a Type 1, I always monitor my blood sugar before I drive. After all, I’d rather arrive late than not arrive all.