Driving has been revolutionary in allowing us to have effective personal transportation and has become something that has always been a part of my life, whether I am the driver or in the passenger seat. Driving is a privilege that comes with rules, expectations and responsibility, and it is important to understand the requirements to maintain that privilege.
Effective education for drivers is paramount in preventing injuries and deaths within our community. Properly educated drivers make well informed decisions that save lives by avoiding potential accidents, but also by driving in a manner that can be expected by other drivers.
There are fundamentals in our education of driving that are non-negotiable that all drivers must follow at all times, such as lane direction, speed and merging. There are also applied instances where the driver needs to make informed decisions based on traffic and road conditions, which are not spelled out as rules. These applied instances are often the most dangerous when multiple drivers assess a traffic situation at the same time from different vantage points.
While the dangers of driving are ever present, there are things we can do as a society to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. A consistent driving education encourages predictable behavior amongst all drivers on the road. In order to increase consistency, it would be extremely beneficial for some form of continuing education for drivers. As traffic laws change, and as a way to enforce that we are able to recall rules, continued education would be beneficial for all age groups.
Many deaths attributed to car accidents can be tied to distraction and substance abuse. Drivers that are affected by distraction and substance abuse often drive in ways that are not expected by other drivers. They also often break seemingly small traffic regulations, but those can lead to massive consequences. With technology increasing, and texting and driving becoming so prevalent, it is important for not only young people, but all people to understand how serious distracted driving can be, and that it can be as dangerous as impaired driving.
This summer, on Jul 21, 2023I lost my best friend in a horrific car accident. Bryan was only twenty-one years old and was leaving a work party where drinking had been involved. Bryan made the correct decision and let his coworker who was sober drive. Unfortunately the driver drove with excessive speed, was distracted and crashed into a tree. Both young men died at the fiery scene. I will never forget the pain I felt in my heart when I got the phone call the morning after that my best friend was gone or the pain I could see in his mothers eyes. Driving is a shared privilege for society and each of our behaviors can lead to massive tragedy.
Commonly, we do not consider the dangers of driving until tragedy occurs. We should always consider the dangers of driving and should not wait until there is a tragedy from ourselves or a loved one. Before I lost my friend, I had heard stories of other people who had lost someone in a car accident, but I never thought much of it. An important truth I learned is that the reality is we should never think it won't happen to us or someone we love, because it can happen to anyone.
I think one of the greatest tools we have that motivate us to become better drivers is raising awareness of the dangers of driving. We should be reminded of the implications of driving frequently, and this reminder should not only be from when ourselves or our loved ones are in an accident.
As a twenty one year old college student, I am faced with the choice of drinking and driving or being in the car with someone who has been drinking. Within my peer group, I can say no to drinking and driving and encourage my peer group to do so as well.
Personally, I can make it a priority to avoid distracted driving, and be focused at all times when driving. I can share the story of my experience losing a loved one to a car accident and raise awareness. I make it a priority to influence my peer group and educate them on the dangers of being behind the wheel. While losing my best friend was one of the worst things I have ever experienced, I have made it a priority to use this as an opportunity to save as many other lives as possible by advocating and sharing his story.