Shattered Hopes

Driver education educates those sharing the roads the rules and consequences of one’s action. Awareness is vital but success hinges on just how many drivers abide by the rules. The number of driving deaths in this country is the measurement how successful the message was embraced. To that end, drivers ed is vital part of the high school curriculum to ensure every driver understands the relationship of role and outcome. The greater the number of safety-minded drivers on the road the lower the number of incidents.

Successfully reducing the number of driving deaths in this country is an achievable goal. Many factors can be credited. Foremost, the message has to be told numerous times. Repeatedly sharing the story is the most effect way of reaching drivers. Not every driver can be reached from the same message but each time the narrative is told, it may reach another set of drivers. Secondly, how the story is told is another factor. I learn through visual representations so a colorful storyline hits home. Others embrace personal testimonies told by peers who are less the authoritative figure.

My mother was involved in a car accident several years back driving my brother and I to a swim lesson. The snowy road condition required drivers to take extra precaution but the teen behind the wheel of the other car did not yield at the intersection and aggressively turned in front of us with his action causing an accident because of his aggressive nature. Fortunately, we were wearing our seatbelts and no one was physically harmed however, the consequences of the other driver’s poor judgement led to property damages, financially burdened others, and could have physically harmed other drivers or passengers in other vehicles. How one driver negatively impacted other driver’s on the road.

Human life is finite and precious, each with an uniqueness adding value to this society. There were 37,461 people killed in 2016 from auto accidents. We do not know the impact of what those lives meant to the advancement of society. Many lives with great hopes are unexpectedly cut short due to the consequences of a driver’s poor judgement(s). We can make improvements. We must continue to create awareness and educate drivers. Each member of society must accept the responsibility and do his/her part improving and preserving lives among us. It is our duty to educate one another, accept this social responsibly, and take just action. Abiding by this commitment will make me a better and safer driver.