Driver Education Initiative 2022: In the Driver’s Seat

Here in the United States, getting your driver’s license at the age of sixteen is one of the most important things to a young person, as it gives teenagers the sense of both freedom and responsibility. While teenagers are concerned with getting their license and driving places, they are not concerned with the risks that they are causing to themselves and other people if distracted while driving. I believe that driver’s training helps teach students about the risks of driving on their own but also the risks they can do to others.  However, students truly don’t understand how easily death can occur when you are behind the wheel and just how vulnerable you really are. When a person is behind the wheel, and they cause an accident they inherit that responsibility of what they have done, and they could spend their life in prison or financially ruin themselves. This is a risk that I do not believe students understand when they put the key in the ignition. I think that if students could grasp what they could be taking responsibility for when they start the car then maybe they would absorb more of what they have learned in drivers training and be a little more cautious with their actions. 

While 34,000 people die from car accidents (Driving and Traffic School) 3,142 people die from distracted driving every year (United States Department of Transportation). One area I feel that we could improve on to diminish these statistics is if phones were taken out of the equation and were not a distraction then the number of deaths caused by distracted driving due to phones would go way down. I believe that this could be accomplished with the right funding, endorsement from credible organizations, and education on the importance of preventing distractions in drivers training. Throughout my life I have never really witnessed any accidents caused by irresponsible driving, and I am thankful that the people in my life know to drive safely, and respectfully of others. However, before I was born my grandfather was in a very bad car accident that almost cost him his life and as a result is now paralyzed, had severe brain trauma and other medical issues. This occurred when he was in a hurry to get somewhere and misjudged the distance of oncoming traffic that he was turning in front of and was hit in the driver’s side by an oncoming car. The EMS had to use the jaws of life to get him out and he had such severe injuries that his aorta was almost ripped completely from his heart, brain trauma and multiple organs damaged, and he was left in a coma for many months. This all happened because he was impatient and was in a rush. 

 If we could instill in student drivers that no matter the rush that they are in, they always have time to make safe decisions, or it could cost them their life. For this reason, I take my time when I am driving, and make it a point to wait on oncoming traffic even if I believe I could make it if I hurried. When I first enter my car, I make sure there is nothing that is going to cause a distraction while I am driving, whether it be: my radio screen, my backpack, or books.  I always ensure that there is nothing that will cause me to look away from what I am doing while I am driving and take my focus off the road. Before I start my car, I ensure that my seatbelt is on, my mirrors are in the correct positioning, and I have either my directions up already on my hands-free phone that I can control via talking to it or I place my phone on “driving mode” when I do not need directions, that way I have no reason to be distracted. As I drive, I am always careful of other drivers’ actions, and how they will affect my driving; for instance if I see someone swerving on the road I do not pass them I slow down and maintain a safe distance and when the opportunity arises I take a detour to avoid them, and maintain my safety. Safety is always a necessary thing with me, almost to the point where I am a glass half empty person; but I believe it is better to recognize possible safety issues, prepare for those issues and have a plan to be the safest I can be.