Eyes on the Road

1.35 million people are killed in car accidents each year. One hundred and thirty-five million people. Each. Year. What if one of those victims was your neighbor? Your classmate? Your friend? Your mother?

Would that make you put your phone down?

The lack of driver safety in our world is an incredibly prevalent and urgent issue. Many people simply tell themselves: “It won’t happen to me.” However, this mindset will not protect you from being involved in an accident. The only way to make a change is by adequately educating drivers on driver safety and awareness. With educated drivers on the road, we can begin to reduce the number of this horrifying statistic effectively.

Drivers fail to obey driving laws in a myriad of ways. There is a never-ending list of unsafe driving practices, whether it be speeding, failing to use seatbelts, turning incorrectly, or disobeying signs. Especially with new, young drivers entering the road regularly, we must equip them with the knowledge they need to stay safe and keep others safe.

In my opinion, one of today’s most significant issues with driving is mobile phones. In a world where cell phones dominate the lives of many, there are more risks than ever before. With their attention diverging from the road, drivers and those around them are susceptible to potentially life-threatening results. Despite this, anyone on the road can testify that it is not uncommon to see drivers preoccupied with their devices. While it has become a somewhat normalized activity, it does not take away from the immense danger it poses to everyone on the road. These drivers do not understand that typing that last word in a text or playing one more round of a game simply is not worth it. Or, perhaps, they simply refuse to see it. Before we see any change in these numbers, we must first acknowledge the issue; we must take responsibility. However, this is just one of the countless results of the lack of driver education today.

One of the most critical steps we can take to reduce the number of deaths related to driving starts with parents. From the moment children receive their learner’s permit, parents must keep an eye on them and how safe they are. They can instruct and guide them to drive correctly and in a way that protects everyone involved. However, once teens start driving under a license, parents no longer have the same control. Not only do teens act differently when authority figures are absent, but other passengers can also play a big part in how they drive. Peer pressure can influence a driver to speed excessively, or they may become distracted by other activities happening in the car. Whatever it may be, safe driving is unenforced a lot of the time.

One possible way to combat this issue is to install apps that alert parents when children use their phones while driving. These added consequences may persuade teens to be more attentive while driving. Speaking from my own experience, I know that this is a very prevalent issue. While riding with teen drivers, I often find myself concerned about the level of safety that they are using. Whether this is excessive speed or lack of attention, people make many irresponsible choices on the road. Although apps like this already exist and have other features, they are not well enough promoted and enforced to make a significant difference.

However, it is not exclusively up to parents. Drivers are also responsible for staying educated about driving and being aware of what we can do to improve our skills. The older generation should abide by safe driving laws and set responsible examples for the younger generation of drivers to see and implement into their own driving use.

As a new driver who just received a permit, I understand that making myself knowledgeable about driving safety is up to me. Reading my Driving Manual made me aware of the ins and outs of driving. I also ensure my attentiveness while driving with other people and become more familiar with how to drive correctly. Once I get my license, I will continue these safe driving habits. I will make an effort to educate myself and those around me by reading articles, watching videos, and using many other sources. I can then use this knowledge to inform others of my findings.

Driver education is imperative for driver safety. It is our job to educate ourselves and those around us to fight the issue of driver-related deaths and injuries. It is our job to protect our neighbors. It is our job to protect our classmates. It is our job to protect our friends, siblings, and mothers. It is our job to educate and stay educated.