Drivers Ed or Drivers Dead

Shattered glass. Bent metal. Muted screams and a hellish sight; Car crashes are truly dangerous, many ending fatally for victims involved. For most US citizens, cars are a necessity for transportation as well as granting accessibility to their needs. However, many drivers lack the proper education about driver safety. Subsequently, the amount of accidents that occur in the US are the highest amongst the world, and by a considerable margin. These accidents can prove fatal, ending tens of thousands of lives in the last year alone. More importantly, teenagers through the ages of 16-19 are at the highest risk of crashes. With accessibility to drivers education being higher than ever, there is no excuse for the absurdly high rate of automobile crashes. In order to create safer roads, proper education and training should be provided to students to keep them well-versed on the rules, and adaptable in sticky situations.

Keeping roads safe begins with increased access to drivers education. Schools should offer drivers education classes as a course, and make them mandatory for students 16 and older. This would make learning laws of the road streamlined with the school curriculum, and give students more time to access and learn these rules. Additionally, students should be given hands-on experience with a certified driving instructor in order to better assess certain situations on the road. Many younger drivers lack the experience to know what to do when they find themselves in near-crash situations. If these students were given training based on these situations, they would be more prepared to avoid a crash. Knowledge of the rules is one thing, but nothing will beat experience. The United States has one of the lowest legal driving ages, beginning at 16 in most states. If US students are given the privilege to drive at a younger age, then they should be provided with the proper tools to help them learn and be prepared for the road.

Another important factor behind the high crash rate for teens in the US lies behind behavioral issues. According to the US General Services Administration, human error causes 98% of crashes. Many teenagers fail to acknowledge the danger of driving, and the responsibility that comes along with it. Teenagers are also more prone to using their phones while driving, as they are more connected to social media and similar outlets compared to previous generations of drivers. These problems are part of the reason that teenage crash rates are high in the US. In order to reduce the risk for teen drivers, the legal age of driving should be increased. As students in the range of 16-19 are almost entirely high schoolers, they have not fully matured, and are not legal adults. It does not make sense that students who are not allowed to make legal choices on their own are trusted with dangerous vehicles. Additionally, tests for drivers licenses should be held at a higher standard, with higher difficulty. In personal experience, I remember that my drivers test at the age of 16 was a very rough experience, and I had made countless errors. Despite that, I had passed and was therefore allowed to drive by myself. Harder tests would allow for drivers that are not prepared to get more time to become accustomed to driving, and also set a required skill level for drivers to be allowed on the road. A higher standard for drivers would result in better prepared drivers, and subsequently a lower crash rate.

Safety on the road applies to everyone. I have witnessed this first hand, when a friend of mine got into a car crash with another driver while I was in the car. My friend was not focused on the road, and was struck on the driver side door by the other vehicle. Luckily, both my friend and I survived, but my friend was severely injured. In fact, she suffered permanent wrist damage and even lost her softball scholarship with her school of choice. I was lucky enough to get away with cuts and bruises, while the other driver was relatively uninjured. All drivers need to be aware that safety is imperative, and that accidents can happen to anyone at any time, including friends and family. Therefore, it is important to make sure that people close to you are practicing safe driving habits.

Despite all the scary numbers and stories, there are steps that one can take to ensure that they are being a safe driver. Before driving, be sure to thoroughly study the laws. It is easy to be bored and skip over the rules, but knowing these rules will improve your knowledge and your ability to drive safely. When driving, make sure to log hours, and to get ample experience. Experience is the best teacher, and there is no issue with having more logged hours than necessary to take your drivers test. Most importantly, always be cognizant of your surroundings. Put away any devices, and if set up music or navigation before driving. Distractions are deadly, and keeping a focused eye on the road allows drivers to be ready for any near-crash situations that may arise.

Driving is a dangerous task, even more so as a teenager. The US has the highest crash rate in the world, as well as the highest teen crash rate. Unfortunately, road safety is not taken as seriously as it needs to be. Accidents can affect anyone, even friends, family, and oneself. In order to keep teen drivers safe, it is crucial that the proper education and experience is provided.