Be the Solution

Driver education is of utmost importance to reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. To fix a problem, the source needs to be found. Usually, the source is ignorance. Educating old and new drivers can provide them with resources to navigate the roads safely. Drivers education programs can teach people skills for driving in difficult conditions due to weather or mechanical failure. It also educates individuals on the most common sources of accidents. These can include driving under the influence, texting while driving, or other forms of distraction such as eating or fiddling with the radio.

To reduce the number of deaths related to driving, education is important. There are formal drivers education courses that can be effective. However, they are not required in every state to obtain a drivers’ license. This form of education may also lack the means to make a lasting impact on the student. Popular forms of awareness can now be found in billboards, social media campaigns, and advertisements on television. These forms of media are consumed by people of various ages. They also hold an emotional component that can create a lasting impact in the mind of a person. These campaigns can share personal stories that have happened to people of all ages, races, and genders. Seeing that this has happened to an individual that one can relate to, can be more impactful than reading statistics.

Personally, I have never been in a car accident. However, my life has still been impacted by reckless driving decisions. I grew up with an alcoholic father. On many occasions, he would drive us to school or other events drunk. It was a normalized occurrence. There was occasional swerving, but I never thought anything of it. That was until my cousin was in a life-threatening car accident. Him and his brother believed that it was a good idea to race home from the bar while both of them were intoxicated. While one of them made it home unscathed, the other got in a car wreck that resulted in a broken neck and other injuries. There was the possibility that he could be paralyzed or worse. Fortunately, he was the only party injured and he survived with chronic back pain as the only lasting affect. Despite his luck, this incident brings me great worry. Many people believe that they will be the exception. They will be able to drive home safely while intoxicated when it is not safe.

These incidences growing up made me strive to be a safe driver. While it was not required in New York, I took driver’s education while I was in high school. This included driving with the instructor as well as instruction in the classroom. At the time, it was boring but the information I received was invaluable. I learned how to navigate the roads in poor conditions and improved my decision making skills. Driving is not a right, it is a privilege that I strive to do my best at to protect myself and others. It is important to keep raising awareness to decrease the likelihood of accidents. Holding our friends accountable is a simple task we can all do to improve our safety. Plan ahead with them. If they are planning on drinking, offer to be the designated driver. If they would like to drive in poor conditions, remind them of the risks and offer alternatives. Raise awareness on social media and participate in political campaigns to support this cause. It is our time to make educated, well informed decisions regarding driver safety. Be the solution.