My phone buzzed in my pocket during a college info session on an unassuming Monday morning of spring break. Initially thinking nothing of it, my phone remained unopened for the rest of the session. When I finally stood up, ready to return to the motel I was staying in, I glanced at my phone and saw a message from my principal. I was shocked by the message that greeted me: Four students were involved in a crash in Florida. Two dead, two in critical condition. They had been going 110 mph and were reported as not wearing seatbelts.
I struggled to regain my composure, immediately reaching out to my friends staying in Florida, making sure they were unharmed. When driving home, I was incredibly vigilant of everything on the road. At one point, I realized I was nearly 15 mph below the speed limit.
Even before this awakening, I was cautious about the deadliness of driving, never going above 5 mph above the speed limit. I heeded the advice of keeping absolute focus on the road even when other people were in the car. However, many don't. The crash risk doubles with two passengers, and quadruples with more. Furthermore, over 50% of teenage passenger deaths were in a car driven by another teen. Poor drivers are not only a threat to themselves, but also the passengers that ride with them, the pedestrians on the street, and other drivers on the road. Properly teaching the risks of driving in driver's ed can help avoid these tragedies; it can target the leading cause of death in teens; it can save a friend, a son, a daughter.
Without driver’s ed, tragedies like the one that occurred at my school could happen every month, even every week. Each time you enter a car, it would feel like gambling with your life. Drivers would be unaware of the many hidden dangers of driving, such as passengers not wearing seat belts, how much phone use impairs driving, and the fact that any amount of alcohol consumption increases crashes. It would become hazardous to bike or even walk. driver's ed gives us some solace that most drivers are aware of the risks and consequences of dangerous driving.
Young drivers especially need this teaching. The teenage mind has an undeveloped prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision making and critical thinking. They often overvalue popularity and fitting in and significantly undervalue the need for safety. This mix is what usually causes accidents, as teens are trying to seem more “fun” by going significantly over a safe speed, drunk driving, and disregarding signage. Teenagers are known for being adventurous and trying new things. This adventurous mindset can often help them find their place in the world. It can help them find out what works and what doesn't. It can help them make mistakes and learn from them. Unfortunately, making mistakes while driving can have significantly larger stakes than the mind is programmed for, and the benefits of teenage experimentation can be wiped out.
The best way for teens to combat their psyche is by stopping and thinking about every risk. The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for compulsive action. Although the cerebral cortex not fully developed in teens, it can overpower the limbic system if given enough time. Furthermore, teens should also remove themselves from outside input before making a decision, as peer pressure can hinder making wise choices. Unfortunately, the people who want to fight unsafe driving areare likely alreadypracticing good driving habits. It is therefore best to avoid being in the car with teen drivers, and when necessary, inform them on the dangers of driving with an underdeveloped brain.
This issue with human nature has a simple (yet unpopular) solution: increase the necessary age to get a driver's licence. Although the cerebral cortex doesn't stop developing until the twenties, even pushing back the minimum age of driver's license acquisition to 18 would be beneficial. This minimum age would give necessary freedom to adults while also keeping them safe. This increased time could allow for more practice or a more in-depth driver's education. Furthermore, it makes it so teens can't drive for most of their brain development, avoiding many dangerous situations. This change wouldn't have to be a law; it could be a community guideline, recommended by schools, and enforced by parents. It is hard to know how much this would impact the road: Perhaps the thousands of teens who die yearly could be spared. Perhaps biking, walking, and running would feel safer. Perhaps my peers would still be here.