Driving seemed to be the ultimate peak of individuality and independence until I learned a scary truth.
I remember the day I got my driver's license as one of the most monumental days of my life. I was finally free to go where I wanted when I wanted to, and this feeling stuck until I started to talk to people. You learn quickly after becoming a driver that every person falls into one of two categories: those who have been in an accident and those who know someone who has. I am lucky if you could say that, to call myself a member of the latter category. This is the scary truth about driving. One of my good friends and teachers was driving their car to school one morning and was hit by a driver who had run a red light. Luckily, he was okay, and I got to help him pick a new car, but this was not the only person I knew who had been in a situation like this. This is when I realized how big of an issue this was, and the first step, as with any significant issue, is education.

Driver education seriously affects the number of car accidents yearly worldwide. Educating drivers leads to higher awareness on the roads concerning potential dangers, as it equips drivers with the necessary tools and knowledge of road signs and potentially hazardous situations.

 The positive effects of more educated drivers can be seen clearly when comparing car accidents per capita in different countries. Germany, for example, has a rigorous driver's education program requiring 14 hours of theoretical training and 12-25 hours behind the wheel with a skilled driver before young adults can drive independently. This starkly contrasts certain provinces in countries like Canada, where there are no formal requirements for time behind the wheel. This is a healthy contributor to the decline in yearly car accidents in Germany compared to such countries, where driver’s ed courses can help decrease insurance prices but are optional for young drivers. In 2019, Germany reported under one-tenth of the number of driving-related deaths compared to the United States, boldly showing the positive effects of increased driver education.
Different forms of driving-related education can also prove very effective in decreasing driving-related deaths. Associations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) have helped over the years in attaining stricter drunk driving laws in countries such as Canada, where the number of car accidents yearly is about 160000. They have managed to not only implement laws regarding the reduction of drunk driving, such as the 21st Amendment in the U.S. but also to catalyze whole nations into condemning the act, which has undoubtedly had a positive impact on driving-related deaths. The MADD website claims that it has helped save over 350000 lives and counting, which shows yet again the positive effects that driver education can have.
Therefore, education and awareness can reduce driving-related incidents, and there are a few different ways that countries could choose to approach these issues.
One approach would be to consider restructuring our driving system. This could include mandatory driver education for those who wish to have a driver's license, the implementation of compulsory defensive driving courses for all drivers, harsher penalties for driving infractions, and similar programs.

As seen with the example of Germany compared to the United States, increased driver education is a significant step countries could take to reduce their driving-related deaths. In some countries, these programs are already government-subsidized. However, in others, the funds from these programs could contribute to government revenue as a replacement for speeding tickets, which tend only to cause disdain for the road safety bodies that impose these hefty fines. Mandatory defensive driving courses already exist in many countries. For example, anyone in Canada who commits a severe traffic violation must complete one of these courses. I personally completed one out of personal interest. Its contents helped teach me how to identify potential dangers and threats on the road and respond to them. In the hands of every driver on the road, these skills could lead to more uniform and predictable driving. Everyone should have to take these courses. Government subsidization for these programs and mandating them for all drivers would facilitate their integration and contribute to a safer environment for drivers.

Finally, some harsher penalties could be imposed to decrease further the incentive to commit driving infractions. For example, harsher penalties for things like road rage and excessive speed outside designated areas could be implemented to create a safer environment on the road. This is not to say governments should raise ticket amounts to reduce incentives—quite the opposite. Large tickets can be effective in this sense, but they also pose a more significant question in equity, as individuals with more money can essentially “afford” to break laws. This sense of “the price” associated with violating the rules can cause more hostility towards governing bodies instead of reducing the incentive to break the rules. Instead of hefty tickets, more community service and license suspension tickets should be handed out as a replacement. This would benefit both the individual in that they would not have to pay these hefty fines and the community in the form of more aid for their projects and less dangerous roads.



Another approach would be to educate people on restructuring driving itself. While some aren’t quick to embrace the idea of a less human-driven future, public awareness campaigns could contribute to changing this. More education surrounding alternative transportation could garner more extensive support for a safer driving future. While it is not possible in every country due to differences in size, population, and infrastructure, some restructuring to the driving system could prove helpful in making roads safer. A heavier emphasis on developing public transport systems and autonomous vehicles comes to mind. These take away large portions of the human reaction aspect of driving, which is, in turn, what makes driving so dangerous. Designated areas for high speeds, such as race tracks or drag strips, could also be implemented to reduce the incentive to drive dangerously on roads. This would encourage people to save the speed for the track and keep the streets safer.

Overall, there are many ways to reduce driving-related deaths, from increased infrastructure to support safe driving to changing the infrastructure surrounding driving entirely. These approaches could save lives on the roads, and all depend on education. We, as citizens, can hold ourselves responsible for our education. We can encourage others to do the same and push for the changes we want to see. With all these steps, we can change this scary truth about driving for everyone.