Education: The Key to Unlocking a Generation of Safe Drivers

Driving—it’s an activity that has many purposes and meanings in our society. As teenagers, we see driving as a sign of maturity, a door to freedom, and an exciting new journey. To adults, driving is a necessity of life, a mode of transportation, and a mundane daily task. However, most people seem to forget that there is more to driving than just freedom or necessity. Responsibility is a huge aspect of operating a vehicle; drivers are responsible for the safety of themselves, their passengers, and others on the road. While some people take this task seriously, many others blatantly disregard safety on the streets because they believe actions such as texting or speeding will have few consequences. This couldn’t be further from the truth; studies have proven time and time again that even the simplest rule breaking on the road can have drastically dangerous outcomes. Why, then, does society believe that they can get away with unsafe driving? The answer lies in their lack of education. While the majority of drivers have been told that driving drunk, or texting while driving, or not wearing a seat-belt has negative results, many have not been made aware of the actual consequences of these actions and the frequency of unfavorable outcomes. However, this could all be changed with a fresh start in the education of the next generation of drivers.

Driver’s education is the most important step young drivers can take in becoming a safe driver. Although the class is required in many states, in others it is optional (including my home state, South Dakota). Therefore, many kids in my hometown opted out of driver’s education and instead learned from their parents. Although this may seem like the right option for some families, parents are not a replacement for the trained educators in a driving course, as parents are not always the best examples. Many young drivers pick up the bad habits their parents display in the driver’s seat leading to another generation of unsafe driving. However, driver’s education instructors are trained to teach kids not only how to operate a vehicle, but also how to do so safely. Learning this new skill from a stranger also helps remove the emotions that can often get in the way of good driving instruction. Another key component of good driving instruction that is offered more consistently in driver’s education is a clear picture of the consequences of unsafe driving. During my time in driver’s ed, I learned many, many things about physically operating a vehicle; however, what sticks in my mind today are the videos, statistics, and stories that displayed the horrific outcomes of unsafe driving. Actually hearing about the specific consequences of texting, speeding, or drinking while driving had a huge impact on me as a young driver, as I’m sure it does for many others. I strongly believe that had I not learned these facts in driver’s education I would not be the safe driver I am today and that the same could be said for any person who takes the class. Therefore, education is the key to reducing deaths on the road. By making driver’s education mandatory in all states and focusing on the implications of unsafe driving, I believe that the next generation of drivers could be safer than the last. Hearing the statistics and stories in a classroom will hopefully prevent teens from learning the consequences the hard way.

Being in an accident is an extremely eye-opening experience, one I have been through myself. A few years ago, my brother was driving me to school the day after a snowstorm. The roads were extremely icy and he was driving carefully. Despite this, as we were driving down a hill, the car lost traction and hit the guardrail of a bridge. It was one of the most terrifying moments of my life; had the car gone off the road any earlier, we would have gone over the edge of the bridge. Luckily, neither of us was injured, but the impact of that experience has been long lasting. The accident made me hyper aware of the dangers that driving presents and of all the simple ways you can reduce that danger. Ever since that day, I’ve been active in reminding my friends and family to practice safe driving habits. When my oldest brother is texting and driving, I tell him to stop. When my dad forgets to put his seat belt on, I make sure to remind him. Looking out for others and encouraging, or demanding, safe driving is one of the most effective ways we can help others stay safe on the road.

Along with encouraging safe driving among others, I strive to lead by example. I believe that my actions have a great effect on those around me, both young and old. The younger generation needs good influences to educate them and demonstrate safe driving, while the older generation needs reminders about the consequences of unsafe driving. By setting a good example for young kids specifically, I hope to help create a new generation of safer drivers. Educating others on the dangers of unsafe driving is what we should strive for in our society. By making future drivers aware of the consequences of texting, drinking, or speeding while driving, we can prevent them from making the same mistakes that generations before them have made.