The Importance of Continuous Drivers Education

I was in the car with my Aunt. We were leaving Target, and believing she was clear to cross the intersection, my Aunt sped to the other side of the street unaware of another car that was racing down the intersection directly in our path. Had I not screamed, we would have been killed. This terrifying experience opened my eyes to how your life can change in an instant. Thankfully, my Aunt stopped the car in time. We were lucky. Every year, approximately 1.24 million people die from an automobile accident world wide. The most common method of transportation in America is taking away 3,397 lives every day, indicating that something is with the way people drive. Change is a necessity. We need to revolutionize the way that automobile safety is communicated. Begining with people, like myself, advocating the importance of safe driving, this communication should grow into programs that allow people to take driving courses on a regular basis.

The unfortunate aspect about how people learn to drive in Kentucky, my home, is that they are legally required to take one drivers ed course to obtain their unrestricted license. This system is faulty. People won’t remember what they learned, especially if they only receive the information once. How to be a safe driver is a message that people need to receive at least once every five years. Don’t get me wrong, adults are busy. They won’t be thrilled at the prospect of additional drivers ed courses. This concern is completely valid. However, when I found out the amount of people who die in car crashes each year, I was appalled. If the reinforced drivers courses were to tell people these terrifying numbers and model how they can make a difference, people will listen. We can’t be content with giving people a drivers course once in their lives. They are going to forget.

State governments could issue required drivers ed courses, which over time would be effective, but what’s really going to spark change in society is the people themselves. In a society that has become surrounded by technology, it has become increasingly difficult to put down mobile devices while driving. Currently, over a fourth of all car crashes in the US were the result of people using their phones. This motivates me to encourage other drivers who I have seen on their phones while driving to stop. When I’m in the car with my friends, I can offer to text for them. These seemingly minuscule changes have the potential to save lives. We need to rethink the way certain practices, such as texting and driving, are viewed in our society. If only a few people began to make these changes, the ripple effect that it could create across the US would help ensure that in 2020 far fewer people will die in automobile accidents.

Works Cited

“Infographics on Global Road Safety 2013.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 15 Oct. 2018, www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2013/facts/en/.

“Texting and Driving Accident Statistics - Distracted Driving.” Edgarsnyder.com, www.edgarsnyder.com/car-accident/cause-of-accident/cell-phone/cell-phone-statistics.html.