Knowledge is Power, and Carelessness is Deadly

Benjamin Ecsedy

Knowledge is power. To know something gives someone the power to protect themselves and to protect others. This is the importance of drivers ed. As drivers learn more about the rules of the road, this knowledge comes to fruition in the form of increased caution, awareness, and success while driving. For example, intersections are one of the deadliest parts of the road, especially when involving pedestrians. When a driver is educated about the rules of right-of-way and is knowledgeable enough to implement them, everyone can go through the intersection without harm. This small example of lives saved by drivers ed becomes magnified as knowledgeable drivers pass through the millions of intersections, highways, exit ramps, and driveways throughout the United States. Learning the rules of the road saves those behind the wheel, their passengers, and passersby. But this is only one step to reduce the number of driving-induced fatalities. First, cars can be engineered with sensors, crumple zones, better airbags, and more reliable seatbelts in order to mitigate the effects of driver error. Education is the next component. In addition to the scenario explained before, when drivers are taught how and when to use car seats and the safety components of their vehicles, even in the worst of circumstances, lives can be saved. Finally, cracking down on speeding, drunk driving, and texting while driving will discourage these behaviors and cause people to improve their driving skills overall. These three pillars – safety technology, drivers ed, and legal discouragement – can protect people from unsuspecting accidents.

Fortunately, I have never been involved in a car accident, but I have observed poor driving skills in both my parents and in myself. My mother likes multitasking, so she is inclined to eat, check Facebook, and apply makeup, all while driving. Her divided attention and preoccupied hands make for a very dangerous driving experience. However, I also fall victim to some of these urges. As a teenager with a short attention span, I like to use my phone to listen to music in the car. Instead of choosing a playlist and sticking to it, I unfortunately end up switching through several playlists as I drive, diverting my attention away from the road and endangering myself and my passengers. I need to stop this habit immediately. Luckily, there are some steps I can take to stop this habit before it gets worse. First, I can put my phone into Do Not Disturb mode and hide it from view, so I am not tempted to change my music. If I have a passenger, I can have them change my music for me. Secondly, I can remind myself that focusing on the road is much more important than any kind of music-listening, forcing me to improve my driving for everyone. Finally, I can spread the word about safe driving and my strategies to encourage it, so others will keep me accountable, and I can help others be accountable to become safer on the road.