Closing the Gap Behind the Wheel

Closing the Gap Behind the Wheel

I still remember the night we went to visit him. I remember his bandaged head bobbling as he played with his toys. My cousin sustained permanent brain damage and partial paralysis, giving him the status of “dependent” for the rest of his life; and all because of a single, unused seatbelt. As devastating as this family’s situation is, an underlying question remains: would this tragedy have occurred if proper driver safety were followed? Virtually everyone in the modern age has access to driver education. But evidently enough, accessibility does not imply greater success on the road. Comprehensive driver education is imperative to the prevention of deaths and maintenance of safety for all people on the road, which can be achieved through integrated implementation and active law enforcement.

Teenagers in the 21^st century live progressively and think about the “now”. Simply passing their driver’s test often holds greater priority over driver safety. Unfortunately, this mindset of achieving goals is not sustainable, and rather harmful. Every day, around 29 people in the U.S.A. die from alcohol-related crashes alone (CDC, 2020). With death tolls on the rise, the driver education system currently in place does not suffice. As H-Y Berg points out, driver education alone cannot change lives; but the means of implementation for this change are what really create impact (Berg, 2006). Implementation includes integrating driver education in school systems and driving courses to introduce aspiring drivers to knowledge that may otherwise be overlooked on a ten-question permit test. Students can also participate in simulations or mock car crash events where they learn about the consequences and steps to take during a car accident. Still, as with all areas of learning, experience serves as the best teacher.

Teaching becomes most effective through demonstrations. When actively enforced, programs that monitor law compliance among drivers have proven to be taken seriously. Programs that target all new drivers, regardless of age, would have the most effect, as these are the drivers who shape the future. Drivers who act irresponsibly on the road, whether due to intoxicated driving, fatigue, or speeding, should be penalized. Penalizing does not always imply fining, however. Drivers can be stopped for their unwarranted behavior and given warnings to their personal records. This way, prevention will dominate punishment, encouraging drivers to improve their driving habits and close knowledge deficits.

To me, safety means abiding by speed limits and holding other drivers in my family accountable. I can continue to encourage friends and fellow drivers to adhere to the rules of the road too. In the case of my cousin, had someone put his seatbelt on his car seat that night, his future would have been completely different. But the future does not live in the past and neither should we. Acting now can prevent millions of deaths to come and it starts with each one of us. Slow down, buckle up, call a cab, and encourage others to do the same. All of us can save lives.

Works Cited

Berg, H-Y. “Reducing crashes and injuries among young drivers: what kind of prevention should we be focusing on?” Injury Prevention: Journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, vol. 12 Suppl 1, (2006): i15-8. doi:10.1136/ip.2006.012062

CDC, “Impaired Driving: Get the Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fmotorvehiclesafety%2Fimpaired_driving%2Fimpaired-drv_factsheet.html