Driving is a privilege that too many in today's society abuse. As a society, we are beyond lucky to have access to this personalized form of transportation, and with it should come responsibility. However, every year, we hear of more and more people being lost due to driver negligence. I can attest to losing a plethora of friends through my four years of high school to the unseen dangers of driving. Advancements must be made in driver education to attempt to prevent these tragedies. I have been deeply affected by driver negligence, reckless drivers, and poor judgment. To thwart this as a society, we must encourage better driving habits, road awareness regulations, and be more critical of irresponsible actions behind the wheel.
Recently, in fact, one of my closest friends, Jenny Hobbs, was driving on her way home when a drunk driver lost control and hit her head-on. She luckily only suffered minor injuries and a broken arm, but the driver is not in prison and is currently free with only a minor DUI charge. This is unacceptable, and she is doing everything she can to seek justice, but to little avail. Impaired driving is unacceptable and led to my friend missing out on many extracurricular activities and events due to the injuries she sustained. It is heartbreaking.
Sadly, my stories don't end here, as I have lost too many friends to this issue. During my freshman year of high school, another classmate of mine, Brianna Dice, was killed on her way to school due to negligent driving. She was hit in the side at an intersection. My close teammate Gavin was her brother, and after losing his sister, he was never the same. There was nothing that could be done for him. Her death was preventable, and the thought of all she was bound to accomplish still plagues my mind, as well as her dear brother’s.
Similarly, my friend Carlos Graves also lost his life in a similar situation, but his case involved impairment. He made the bad decision that day to drive irresponsibly and under the influence, and he did not make it home. I am forever hurt that his bright future was cut short due to one night of bad decisions. He had a prior for this instance, and had the rehab and justice system been better, he may still be with us today. These are not just statistics to me; these are real people with dreams and ambitions, leaving behind family and friends who grieve their loss.
It is key that driver’s education is not overlooked, as it is a crucial step in preventing tragedy. A proper driver’s education program should not only focus on the technicalities of driving but also emphasize the risks of distracted driving, speeding, and impaired vehicle operation. Teaching young drivers about defensive driving, the risks of driving while tired, and the impact their decisions can have on others can save lives. We must work together as a community to fight against this issue, as it is taking too many young lives. Driving is too accessible for driver’s education to not be equally accessible, engaging, and recurring, ensuring that drivers remain informed of road laws and safe practices.
Beyond education, laws must be stricter in holding drivers more accountable for their poor decisions. Law enforcement must impose heavier penalties on individuals for drunk driving, reckless driving, and speeding. These would serve as necessary deterrents to keep reckless drivers off the roads. Additional refresher courses and initiatives to continue informing drivers are necessary to ensure safety year-round. An increase in DUI checkpoints and public awareness campaigns promoting rideshare apps would also spread awareness of the dangers associated with driving irresponsibly.
Personally, I make a conscious effort to be a responsible driver and promote safety on the roads. I encourage my friends and family to do the same, reminding them of the lives we have seen cut short too soon, whether by bad choices or by sheer misfortune. To add to the heartbreak, I recently lost another friend, Wyatt Vincent Murphy. He was killed in an ATV incident when he was hit by a vehicle. The tragedies never seem to end, and it is beyond crushing. Through proper education, stricter laws, and accountability, we can reduce the number of lives lost on the road. I will never forget the stories of my friends gone too soon, and I will carry on their legacies, determined to advocate for safer driving. We, as a society, must do our part to prevent tragedy from striking again. I will ensure that no one else has to endure the pain of losing a loved one as I have.