I work as a Customer Service Representative for an Automobile Collision Center. I have been in the industry since 2008 working with both corporations and a mom-and-pop shop. In this role, I have witnessed many different scenarios of drivers who drop off their vehicles for repairs. Driver education is not mandatory or required in all states, and we wonder why there are so many accidents on the road! According to The American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, Alabama, Minnesota, and North Dakota do not require Driver Education this was reported in July 2011. A more recent report published February 9, 2023, there are currently 37 states where driver’s education classes are mandatory depending on your age. Not that distraction is not a key factor now but taking a class and learning defensive driving could help. It is imperative that people become more cautious while driving and less in a hurry to get where they need to go. So many deaths could be avoided if we were more vigilant in our surroundings while driving. If we require every person to take a driver’s class before getting their driver’s license, we have provided each person with the skills needed on the road every day. Same concept as asking cosmetologists, electricians, and plumbers to name a few to get licensed in their state to show that they have taken the required training to perform their jobs. A defensive driver’s course should be required from each person who holds a driver’s license in all 50 states.
For example, I live in the state of Arizona, and it is not unusual to hear on the traffic report of a motorcycle fatality. “In 2021, there were 161 people killed in Arizona due to motorcycle crashes, which was a minor decrease from 2020, in which there were 160 fatalities”. Lately here in 2023, it has been wrong-way drivers. Some are impaired and others at night not able to take in their surroundings. Why wrong-way drivers? Is there a problem with signage on the road? I have had customers drop off vehicles for hit-and-runs, uninsured motorists, and collisions based on people not paying attention. Both parties, the insured and claimant, are inconvenienced due to a collision. There are many factors to consider, for example, deductibles, rentals, supply chain issues with getting parts and so much more. We all take a risk on the road even if we go two miles to the grocery store. It is amazing to see the number of bad drivers on the roads.
All new vehicles should provide a form of Bluetooth to have hands-free connected on the phone if necessary. Maybe even having sensors on the steering wheel where a notification sound pops up when both hands are not on the steering wheel. We are adding cameras for additional safety features, and it is amazing that I still have customers drop off vehicles with those safety features because they turn off the notifications. There are things that drivers can do to have fewer distractions. Put our phones down and concentrate on the road and the surrounding vehicles. Leave the house earlier for work and allow yourself more time to get where you need to get to. There are more drivers on the road now than ever before and if we can be considerate of others and obey traffic laws then we can prevent deaths related to driving.
Accountability is another factor that will deter reckless driving. Holding those responsible for their poor choices and raising fines or time in jail for offenses will send a message that it will not be tolerated. Cameras at intersections should also be required for accidents that happen in the intersection and for those who run red lights. If someone is uninsured and not able to afford insurance, then they should not be able to drive and if caught harsh punishments should be put in place. We should also test-drive our older population as well, unfortunately. Senior citizens after a certain age should not be on the road not just for their protection but the protection of others on the road. Reaching the age of social security is a good point to have drivers come in annually thereafter to reassess their driving. Health conditions such as epilepsy and seizures should also be looked at in whether they should be able to hold a driver’s license. There are many factors in ensuring safe and responsible driving and it should be taken seriously for the safety of everyone on the road.