Preventing Accidents
2026 Driver Education Round 1
McKayla Zubel
Waddell, Arizona
When trying to reduce the number of deaths resulting from driving, the most important factor to consider in my opinion, is driving education. If a driver is not educated in specific requirements, they will not be knowledgeable about how they should be driving in certain situations. When I first learned how to drive, it was really never-racking. Although a lot of my experience with driving came from hands-on learning, it was important to learn things like how to stop at a four-way stop and other important driving rules. When driving, there are specific rules to follow, and when these rules are not followed, people can get hurt and situations can become less safe. Whether that be in a school zone or in traffic, many accidents can be prevented simply by following the rules that have been put in place to protect us and others from harm. Not only can these accidents hurt others, but they can hurt ourselves as well. If someone kills a person in an accident, the guilt of hurting someone unintentionally can stay with them and prevent them from feeling safe in a car ever again.
The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include creating a firmer and stricter driving test. Instead of simply driving around in a circle, make sure the driver goes through areas like four-way stops, train crossings, and school zones while they are active. There is very little points for someone training in these areas if they are not active because they are not getting the actual experience. Along with this, a longer driving test should be provided. When I took my driving test, it only lasted around a ten-to-fifteen-minute car ride, and the speed limits were slow. It was a short window, and it was not difficult at all. Although there would be fewer licensed drivers, it would ensure that each driver had the proper education and skills to be a good driver. I have had an experience with a car accident, not personally behind the wheel, but when my mother was driving and another person rear-ended us. It was a scary experience because not only did they hit us, but they drove away afterward. This is another growing problem because instead of taking responsibility for hitting another driver, people get scared and drive off.
Another occurrence that happened in my family involved my uncle. When he was four years old, he was playing outside with his siblings and his ball rolled into the street. Although there were many siblings there, there were not many cars on the road, and the speed limit was extremely low. However, a young driver was speeding through the neighborhood instead of following the speed limit and watching his surroundings. He hit my uncle and because of the speed of the car, my uncle died instantly. Not only was this jarring for my family, but it changed all of our perspectives on how we view vehicles.
Due to this horrible tragedy my grandmother who is eighty-two years old has never driven in her life at all and instead prefers to be driven by anyone else. Who knows maybe if the car was driving slower, my uncle would still be alive and be around the age of fifty-five years old today. Even though this was a very sad experience for my family, everyone took something from it. We learned to always watch before crossing the road and double-check while crossing to make sure somebody is not driving too fast. From this experience, I would say my family members do not drive irresponsibly because we believe that no one's life should be taken because of careless attitudes. I also had the experience of shadowing in a hospital and saw a man with a broken leg who had been riding a motorcycle. A car rear-ended him because the driver was looking at their phone. From this one mistake, he was knocked completely off his motorcycle and may never walk the same way again.
Phones are another big problem that has contributed to car accidents. People become less careful and less observant when driving while using their phones, which puts more people in danger. The steps that can be taken to keep others and ourselves safe are simple: ensure that everyone follows the law, no matter how unnecessary some restrictions may seem, and avoid using phones while driving. By following these rules, we can prevent many serious accidents and save lives.
The steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving include creating a firmer and stricter driving test. Instead of simply driving around in a circle, make sure the driver goes through areas like four-way stops, train crossings, and school zones while they are active. There is very little points for someone training in these areas if they are not active because they are not getting the actual experience. Along with this, a longer driving test should be provided. When I took my driving test, it only lasted around a ten-to-fifteen-minute car ride, and the speed limits were slow. It was a short window, and it was not difficult at all. Although there would be fewer licensed drivers, it would ensure that each driver had the proper education and skills to be a good driver. I have had an experience with a car accident, not personally behind the wheel, but when my mother was driving and another person rear-ended us. It was a scary experience because not only did they hit us, but they drove away afterward. This is another growing problem because instead of taking responsibility for hitting another driver, people get scared and drive off.
Another occurrence that happened in my family involved my uncle. When he was four years old, he was playing outside with his siblings and his ball rolled into the street. Although there were many siblings there, there were not many cars on the road, and the speed limit was extremely low. However, a young driver was speeding through the neighborhood instead of following the speed limit and watching his surroundings. He hit my uncle and because of the speed of the car, my uncle died instantly. Not only was this jarring for my family, but it changed all of our perspectives on how we view vehicles.
Due to this horrible tragedy my grandmother who is eighty-two years old has never driven in her life at all and instead prefers to be driven by anyone else. Who knows maybe if the car was driving slower, my uncle would still be alive and be around the age of fifty-five years old today. Even though this was a very sad experience for my family, everyone took something from it. We learned to always watch before crossing the road and double-check while crossing to make sure somebody is not driving too fast. From this experience, I would say my family members do not drive irresponsibly because we believe that no one's life should be taken because of careless attitudes. I also had the experience of shadowing in a hospital and saw a man with a broken leg who had been riding a motorcycle. A car rear-ended him because the driver was looking at their phone. From this one mistake, he was knocked completely off his motorcycle and may never walk the same way again.
Phones are another big problem that has contributed to car accidents. People become less careful and less observant when driving while using their phones, which puts more people in danger. The steps that can be taken to keep others and ourselves safe are simple: ensure that everyone follows the law, no matter how unnecessary some restrictions may seem, and avoid using phones while driving. By following these rules, we can prevent many serious accidents and save lives.
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