Each of Us Can Make a Difference in Driver Safety

2020 Drivers Ed Online
Essay Contest

• What is the
  importance of drivers ed in reducing the number deaths as a
  result of driving?

• What steps
  can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving?

• Have you ever
  had an experience of being in car accident or have seen your friends
  or family members driving irresponsibly?

• What steps
  can you take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others
  become safer on the road?

Drivers ed
is of absolute importance to reducing the number of U.S. driver
deaths. Drivers ed properly instructs people on safely
following the rules of the road, pre-driving procedure, and how to
interact with other drivers. This education directly impacts driver
safety. A study completed by the University of Nebraska Lincoln in
2015, which accounted for 150,000 students over 8 years, found that,
“young drivers who have not completed drivers ed are 75
percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely
to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more
likely to have an accident”

The information
in this study is clear, and the U.S. can certainly enact changes to
improve driver safety. One step is to make drivers ed a
mandatory class in high school and a requirement for acquiring a
driver’s license. This would ensure every American completes the
proper training protocols before driving. This would definitively
reduce the number of accidents and fatalities per year, and America
must take this type of strict measurement to produce the desired
results.

I experienced a
car accident just under two years ago in Los Angeles. I was driving
at 35mph on a busy street and I saw the intersection ahead was green,
so I continued. Right as I entered the intersection, I saw a car
driving 40mph entering the intersection on my right. Less than a
second later, the car is directly in front of me. We crash, the
airbags pop, and I rebound off of them. My car ended up being
totaled, and the security cameras showed immediately that the driver
ran a late red light. Everyone was safe, though the opposite driver
recklessly sped past a red light.

Things I can do
to practice safe driving are to ensure the proper position of my
mirrors, seat, and seat belt every time before driving. I can safely
follow the law, maintain a solid distance from other drivers, be
aware of pedestrian crossings, and to drive the speed limit. I never
drink and drive and will continue to do so. I can influence my
friends, family, and coworkers by respectfully informing them of safe
driving principles. If I am driving with a friend, I can make sure
they wear their seatbelt, advocate non drinking, and always be a
designated driver. Additionally, phone usage is especially high in
American youth while driving. Organizations such as the
National
Safety Council and the
National
Transportation Safety Board recommend that people not
use their phones at all while behind the wheel. While not a standard
everyone will follow, I can advocate friends and family to use car
mounts and hands free modes.

By each person in
the country being responsible, we can reduce the total number of
driving related fatalities.