Driver education is our best hope to reduce the number of deaths on the road. Tens of thousands of people die on the road every year in the US. I remember taking Drivers Ed, and there was very little about driver safety. Rarely ever was drunk driving mentioned, or texting and driving, or speeding, or any of the common causes of accidents on the road. Driver education may be the only thing that stands between us youth and more driving deaths. That is why we need to teach more about what NOT to do on the road, than what TO do. Yes, learning how to drive is important, but it is just as important to learn when to not get on the road at all. Therefore, we should use Driver's Education as a tool to teach people road safety along with driving instructions to reduce the number of deaths per year.
The culture of today has an air of indifference. It isn’t cool to care about important things, like speeding or drinking or the LAW. Ironically, while writing this essay, I’m listening to a driving playlist called ‘need for speed’, so maybe I have fallen victim too. Anyway, like I said before, we need more awareness in everyday activities. I think what would help me the most is examples and simulations. Show us what happens when we drink/speed/text; let us experience it. Impair our hearing, sight, reaction time etc. I also know that Allstate has safe driving bonuses for every six months you don’t have an accident. If more insurance companies have programs like this, it would be a great incentive for safer driving, especially among young adults. One of the most important ways is probably to reduce the positive stigma around driving fast and drinking. These have been made popular by movies like Fast and Furious and My Fault, and many more, making it seem cool and impressive to go fast with no regards for safety. To combat this, I think it should start right at the car dealership. When buying a car, they should detail all the features AND limitations of the car and the human. Talk about the air bag and at what speed it will deploy and the consequences of speeding. Talk about the brakes and how long it takes to come to a complete stop. Talk about the crunch zone on the car and what amount of impact initiates it. Scare them a little, you know? Intimidation and education seem like the best ways to make our roads safer.
Yes, I have been in a car accident before. No one was hurt, thankfully. It happened when I was young, so all I remember is hanging upside down with my brother screaming next to me and me trying to shut him up, because what’s he screaming for? I remember standing next to a bunch of broken glass and thinking of how pretty it was. And of course, who can forget the dazzling moments of 6 year old popularity as I arrived at daycare in the ambulance and got to tell my harrowing tale to all of my friends. As of today, not to be a snitch, but yes, some of my friends make questionable decisions on the road. As their passenger princess, I am known for always checking their blind spot, and watching their speed. All things considered, I think these moments are what make me the careful driver I am today.
It's funny to think that the girl who wanted to become a NASCAR driver can barely change lanes without freaking out. My dad would always tell me “other people have brakes” as an excuse for reckless driving and I hate it. I think if less people drive with that mentality, the ‘other people will make up for my mistakes’ mentality, then the roads would be so much safer. Take into account that there are people on the road who are going far above the speed limit, who are 10 shots sober, or who are not even looking at the road right now. Being a responsible driver means driving safely for your sake, and for the sake of the drivers around you. The passengers also have a responsibility to not distract the driver, by not being too loud or wild and by not touching the music. Even as a pedestrian, you need to be aware of your surroundings and not walk into traffic just because pedestrians have the right of way. Making the roads safer can be achieved through being a good driver, passenger, and pedestrian. Once these steps are taken to achieve this triad of responsibility, we can keep ourselves, and others safe on the road.
The culture of today has an air of indifference. It isn’t cool to care about important things, like speeding or drinking or the LAW. Ironically, while writing this essay, I’m listening to a driving playlist called ‘need for speed’, so maybe I have fallen victim too. Anyway, like I said before, we need more awareness in everyday activities. I think what would help me the most is examples and simulations. Show us what happens when we drink/speed/text; let us experience it. Impair our hearing, sight, reaction time etc. I also know that Allstate has safe driving bonuses for every six months you don’t have an accident. If more insurance companies have programs like this, it would be a great incentive for safer driving, especially among young adults. One of the most important ways is probably to reduce the positive stigma around driving fast and drinking. These have been made popular by movies like Fast and Furious and My Fault, and many more, making it seem cool and impressive to go fast with no regards for safety. To combat this, I think it should start right at the car dealership. When buying a car, they should detail all the features AND limitations of the car and the human. Talk about the air bag and at what speed it will deploy and the consequences of speeding. Talk about the brakes and how long it takes to come to a complete stop. Talk about the crunch zone on the car and what amount of impact initiates it. Scare them a little, you know? Intimidation and education seem like the best ways to make our roads safer.
Yes, I have been in a car accident before. No one was hurt, thankfully. It happened when I was young, so all I remember is hanging upside down with my brother screaming next to me and me trying to shut him up, because what’s he screaming for? I remember standing next to a bunch of broken glass and thinking of how pretty it was. And of course, who can forget the dazzling moments of 6 year old popularity as I arrived at daycare in the ambulance and got to tell my harrowing tale to all of my friends. As of today, not to be a snitch, but yes, some of my friends make questionable decisions on the road. As their passenger princess, I am known for always checking their blind spot, and watching their speed. All things considered, I think these moments are what make me the careful driver I am today.
It's funny to think that the girl who wanted to become a NASCAR driver can barely change lanes without freaking out. My dad would always tell me “other people have brakes” as an excuse for reckless driving and I hate it. I think if less people drive with that mentality, the ‘other people will make up for my mistakes’ mentality, then the roads would be so much safer. Take into account that there are people on the road who are going far above the speed limit, who are 10 shots sober, or who are not even looking at the road right now. Being a responsible driver means driving safely for your sake, and for the sake of the drivers around you. The passengers also have a responsibility to not distract the driver, by not being too loud or wild and by not touching the music. Even as a pedestrian, you need to be aware of your surroundings and not walk into traffic just because pedestrians have the right of way. Making the roads safer can be achieved through being a good driver, passenger, and pedestrian. Once these steps are taken to achieve this triad of responsibility, we can keep ourselves, and others safe on the road.
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Steering Toward Safety: The Transformative Power of Driver Education
Emma Zinkowski
