Did you know that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2,800 teens were killed and about 227,000 were injured as a result of motor vehicle crashes in 2020? Imagine how many people were affected by those crashes beyond the teens who were injured or died. For example, imagine the impact it had on the family and friends of those teens. This is just one of the many reasons why teen driver safety is an important public issue and why driver’s education plays a big role in addressing it.

Teen driver safety is an important public issue because the lives of teenagers, as well as adults and kids, depend on it. Driver’s education plays a big role in addressing this issue by helping teens drive correctly and responsibly, and know what to do in certain situations which is important because there’s a whole lot more to driving than many teens think. For example, there are weather conditions, road conditions, and how familiar you are with the road that you need to worry about, on top of other drivers' mistakes and unexpected situations. Driver’s education helps address all of these problems and more so teens can safely drive. It also gives teens a chance to practice driving in a safe and supervised environment before they’re on their own, helping them develop the skills and responsibility necessary to drive safely.

The biggest challenges teen drivers face today are distractions, peer pressure, and a lack of experience. They can overcome them by turning their phone on silent before driving, not listening to peer pressure, and gaining experience in a safe way. Driver’s education is the perfect way to do all of that, as the teachers are there to teach them not only the rules of the road but also about the importance of driving responsibly. Teenagers can then take that knowledge and use it when they’re completely on their own, which helps keep the roads safer for everyone.

I almost learned the importance of driving responsibly the hard way. One time, I went driving to a park with both of my parents and my little brother in the car. I was kind of stressed and tired but drove anyway. I made a couple of minor mistakes entering the parking lot and then I parked. After we were done at the park, I had to drive back home, and at the first intersection, I almost turned left onto the wrong side of the road before my parents and brother stopped me. If they hadn’t said anything, I would’ve turned into oncoming traffic. My parents and brother told me it was my fault for driving even though I felt tired and stressed. I wasn’t driving responsibly the second I got in the car and decided to drive even though I wasn’t feeling the best. After this experience, I really questioned whether I was in the right mental state to go driving every time before I got behind the wheel. Now, I only drive when I'm 100% sure I’m in the right mental state. This highlights the importance of not only following speed limits and road rules but also driving responsibly.

Teens and communities can promote safer driving among young people by reminding them to drive safely and calling out their mistakes when driving. For example, my little brother has a friend who has driven us a couple of times and he goes way over the speed limit and really likes to accelerate quickly. My little brother and I have both told him to chill out, and I’ve told him he’s going over the speed limit. He’s also weaved in and out of traffic, and I’ve jokingly told him he’s going to crash if he keeps it up. It wasn’t really a joke though, because all it takes is some obstruction in the road ahead, like police or another reckless driver, for him to end up in a crash. Schools can also promote safer driving by reminding students about the consequences of unsafe driving, especially if someone in the school community has been involved in a crash. This would serve as a powerful reminder for everyone to take driving seriously.

In conclusion, teen driver safety is an important public issue that affects teens, kids, adults, and the families and friends of victims. With the help of driver’s education classes, as well as support from communities and schools, teens can become safer drivers and help make the roads safer for everyone.