Driving; It’s a Privilege Not a Right

To start, I want to address how important driver education is in reducing the number of deaths caused by driving. To me, there is an obvious connection between how well someone knows how to drive, versus their likelihood of getting into an accident. While certainly anything can happen when you get in a car, and you can’t prevent all accidents, hence why they’re called accidents, you can not only decrease your likelihood of getting in one by having good driver’s education, but you also can greatly reduce your chances of dying. What I mean by this is that by being a prepared and safe driver, knowing the rules of the road, and especially knowing how to be a defensive driver, your risk of injury, and death, are going to greatly decrease. For example, knowing the difference between a yield sign and a stop is undeniably the same difference as life and death.

While I am certainly not an expert in the area of driving statistics, from what I’ve personally witnessed on the road I’ll discuss what steps I believe have been taken already and should be reinforced, and what steps I believe have yet to be taken and should. I think the first thing that comes to mind to me is raising the age at which someone can get their permit. Teenagers are dumb, as a former teenager, I can say that with certainty. There’s already so much going on when the typical teen gets their permit, that they don’t take it as seriously as they probably should. Even the difference of one year would be a huge uptake in a teen’s maturity level. Furthermore, extending the length of the permit time would most certainly be beneficial as well. The more practice, the better off they’ll be. If another six months of learning means keeping someone alive, I see no reason not to do so. My state has actually considered it within the past few years, but unfortunately the legislation has yet to pass it. Another thing I would consider would be maybe requiring or at least heavily suggesting someone to retake a shortened version of driver’s ed every ten years or so. I just finished my training for my ten hour OSHA safety card and while I never have to retake the class, it is suggested that every three to four years I review the materials in the course. I think something similar would greatly impact the number of deaths related to driving each year. It would remind people of the most essential parts of driving, and remind them of how daunting a task it really is.

Personally, I’ve been very fortunate to have only been in one accident in my life. It was when I was about two years old, I don’t remember it at all, and it was incredibly minor. However, I have seen, unfortunately, many friends, and some family members drive irresponsibly to the point that I could have been killed because of their lack of care. For example, the first time that comes to mind is the first, and last, time I allowed a former friend from high school to drive me. She tried to use her phone while driving, would turn and talk to the people in the backseat, and overall was a very unfocused driver. I tried to discourage her as much as I could, and somewhat succeeded, but from that point on I either drove myself or would be the one driving the two of us. I had to do this with multiple friends actually, for similar reasons. I also turned down on going on certain trips or ‘runs’ because I knew that that friend wouldn’t be a safe driver. I just simply wasn’t going to put my life on the line so that they could drive recklessly. As you can imagine, I’m glad that I made that choice every time. 

There are a few basic steps I personally take to reduce my own risks while driving, which I will share now. The main thing to me, which I’ve briefly mentioned before, is defensive driving. My parents have always stressed this to me, and it’s genuinely saved me from dangerous situations, ones that may have cost me my life, time and time again. Earlier this year actually, I was in a roundabout and I had the options to turn right and continue straight, or turn left further into the roundabout. A large moving truck in the lane beside me could only go right. Instead, he cut across the lane of traffic and I would have either been hit by him or t-boned him, had I not been paying attention and slammed on my brakes. Sometimes it can be frustrating feeling like you’re the only person playing it safe but in the end, you’re going to be better off for it. Another step I take, which is so important in this day and age, is that I don’t touch my phone when I drive. I have notifications silenced and I put it away and out of my sight. I know of too many people who have been in serious wrecks because they were on their phone, and I see no reason to take that risk myself. One final step that I take, which only applies every so often, but is still important, is that I ask all passengers to keep quiet while I drive. They don’t have to be silent, but each time someone enters my car I ask them to not be loud, to not play loud music, and to let me focus on the road. I think people tend to forget how distracting they can be in the heat of the moment, especially in a closed space like a vehicle. Sometimes it’s important to remind people that their risk of getting seriously hurt or dying skyrockets every time they go for a drive. For me, I don’t mind being reminded of that, as I end up being a safer driver because of it. To me, that’s a much better alternative than winding up hurt, or worse.