Every single day, eight or more parents get an earth-shattering phone call, which may sound something like “We’re so sorry to inform you, but there’s been a horrible car accident.” What follows is something absolutely no parent should have to endure–the loss of a child. Each year, over two thousand teenagers pass away in wrecks, most of which could be avoided. The loss of every teen, while harrowing, can also be used to educate others about the importance of safe driving and driver education.
Although I did not receive my license through driver's education, there are skills I see myself needing to improve compared to my peers who went through the course. There are many statistics to back up the significance, including one from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which states, “Young drivers who have not completed driver's education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed.” This alone shows how pivotal driver education is, and I firmly believe it should be mandatory for teenagers to go through this course to get their license. A parent’s instruction can only go so far–new drivers need instruction from a professional. If every single teen went through driver's education, the number of accidents and deaths would certainly be reduced, saving countless lives.
As a high school senior, I have witnessed my classmates' reckless driving. Unnecessary speeding, texting while driving, and negligent awareness of surroundings are almost everyday occurrences. I have been fortunate to have never gotten into a car accident, but several students at my school have not been so lucky. Although no one has gotten seriously hurt, several of my peers have wrecked cars because of speeding or simply not paying attention. When I have been a passenger with my friends, I have seen how not being vigilant affects driving. Very few of my classmates went through driver education, which shows through their reckless tendencies. I have also had several close calls when driving alone because of the rashness of other drivers on the road. I rely on the interstate to commute to and from my part-time job, and I have frequently been tailgated, flipped off, and have almost witnessed several accidents as well. In a time when cars are advancing to include numerous safety features, it appears as though drivers are becoming less and less responsible. It is understandable to make minor mistakes on the road, such as almost missing a turn because of a GPS, but mistakes that can be avoided are the ones that most commonly cause car accidents. There is no reason to be looking at your phone when you drive. There is no reason to speed. There is no reason to tailgate. All of these things can easily be avoided if individuals employ common sense and take steps to avoid making these mistakes.
First, a great step to take to ensure driver safety is to mandate driver education. I believe it should become a free resource, and more programs should be available. In my area, there are only two from a high school and the local community college. That is not enough. It would create more jobs for instructors, and reassure parents that their child is learning how to properly navigate the roads. With this change, the number of teen deaths would drastically reduce each year. Another step is to create more awareness about teen driving. Recently, hundreds of high schools around the United States have been creating crash simulations to show the consequences of reckless driving. My school brought a damaged car to show what could happen if one were to drive foolhardily, but a simulation would have gotten the point across much more effectively. The simulations need to occur at every single high school, but it is also up to teenagers to take steps to avoid careless driving. Put the phone away. Turn down the music. Leave early to avoid having to rush to work or school. Do not drive with individuals who are ultimately going to take your attention from the road.
Despite the laws against driving with passengers when you are newly licensed, these rules are not adequately enforced in my area. Our local law enforcement has been far too lenient with cracking down on teenagers who break this law; I have heard many of my peers discussing the fact that they can “get away” with driving a car full of people. This is unacceptable. Although it may be inconvenient to not be able to drive together to a fast food place at lunch, it is still easy for everyone to just take a separate car. It lowers the risk of distracted driving, which therefore reduces the risk of accidents. Personally, I have learned to put my phone in a place where I cannot reach it. I keep my music down to a low volume, and I make sure to give myself plenty of time to arrive at a destination so there is no need to speed. With these changes, my driving has conspicuously improved.
In summation, no parent should have to experience the soul-crushing loss of a child. However, each year, almost three thousand parents will get the dreaded phone call. This statistic is unacceptable and needs to be reduced in the coming years. It will take a lot of work and a myriad of resources, but the number of teenage driving deaths per year can eventually reach zero. It can start today, with you. Put the phone down. Leave early, or arrive late. Turn down the music. Take away all distractions when driving. You could be the difference in saving a life, be it your own, or someone else. With individual and eventually nationwide work, no parent will ever have to experience the loss of a teenager in a car accident again.