Wheel of Fortune

Vehicles are a privilege. They are expensive, they are convenient, and there is hardly a thought of a life without one, although they have not always existed. Today, our lives are surrounded by the use of a car: a Starbucks drive through, an early morning commute, or even a simple trip to the grocery store. For millions of people, these tasks must be accomplished with the help of a car. So why, with this imminent, first class privilege, is America so incredibly irked by the thought of a simple Driver’s Education course?

Getting behind the wheel of the vehicle is a powerful feeling. For some, it may be the only sese of control they feel in their day. However, the steering wheel of a car can make or break your life, your reputation, and your fortune. It can also affect the same qualities as those around you. The steering wheel is a wheel of fortune. If our society fails to be educated of the proper driving mannerisms, our country could quickly spiral into one filled with tragedy and death. Since 2005, highway fatalities in America have dropped by nearly ten thousand deaths. Ten thousand more people have been granted life by safer driving practices. Some may speculate that this drop in fatality is due to modernized technology in the vehicles themselves. However, it is clear that driver’s education has been more so emphasized since 2005, which has ultimately saved these lives.

The state of Arkansas does not require a driver’s education course for drivers under the age of 18. Similarly, Arkansas had over 570 car-induced fatalities in 2021. This number can be compared to that of California’s vehicle fatalities of 2021, at only 289 deaths. California’s population is well over that of Arkansas’, creating busier California highways. Regardless of these cluttered highways, though, Arkansas still had almost twice the number of vehicle deaths as California last year. It is clear that there is a direct correlation between driver education and deaths by car, considering California drivers, who are required to go through a more rigorous training course, have created less fatal crashes. It is extremely important to implement similar driver education courses in all fifty states so that lives can be saved nationwide. There is no reason to risk your life each time you step in a vehicle, due to the doubt of your fellow drivers. If everyone becomes educated, the road can be shared more intimately, and purposeful lives can be saved.

Primarily, a plan of action needs to be established. All fifty states must require thirty hours of a driver’s education course in addition to at least six instructed hours behind the wheel. These requirements have proven to be effective in California, Connecticut, Georgia, and other states in which annual fatalities are less than those of states who do not have these requirements. An emphasis on adult training should also be of importance. Why is it found, by the government, to only be necessary for minors to fulfill these requirements whereas an adult must only pass a written test? Immigrants, who have practiced completely different driving habits around the world, are able to come to the United States and only pass a written test. How would it be known that they practice safe procedures on the road? Physically driving is much different than simply knowing the road signs and exit habits that are tested on paper. If anything, it should be of greater importance for adults to complete the active training hours as their, often, stubborn minds need to learn proper road etiquette. Driving is not a game nor is it a hobby. It is a necessary, careful practice in which safety is more important than speed and convenience.

While I have not been in a car accident, my school puts on an annual Every 15 Minutes video that mainly shows the effect of drinking while driving, but more importantly shows the aftermath of death by vehicle. The video is a real life simulation that the whole school gets to be a part of, with real students “dying” and lifelike makeup to add life to dramatic injuries. It is heart wrenching to hear the “dead” students’ parents’ speeches at their mock funerals. The Every 15 Minutes production creates a greater picture of the result of reckless driving, and furthermore encourages high school students to drive safer and smarter. While on the road, you are not only responsible for the lives of those in the car, but also the lives of those who share the road. This responsibility needs to be strictly emphasized as it is not naturally thought about on a daily basis.

Don’t let a steering wheel become one of fortune. Choose the safe route and don’t spin against the odds; driving safely starts with in-depth drivers education courses nationwide that include practice behind the wheel. Practice makes perfect; driving is not an exception.