Shifting Driver’s Education Into High Gear

Safe driving is no joking matter. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 38,824 people died on U.S. roads in 2020, which is a 6.8% increase over 2019.^[1] The problem is that until drivers take education more seriously, the trend of traffic-related fatalities will continue to increase in our country. However, what is being done to educate drivers on the severe consequences associated with irresponsible driving? In other words, most state-distributed, DOT study handbooks are focused on the education of basic traffic guidelines, not necessarily what happens after the fact if you don’t take them seriously.

Imagine if there were TWO required tests to secure a state-issued driver’s license: One to test safety knowledge and vehicular aptitude, and another focused solely on the consequences of action associated with irresponsible driving. For example, if drivers understood how severe the judicial consequences are for vehicular homicide/manslaughter, perhaps they would think twice before texting while driving or driving while intoxicated. Granted, education is meaningless without application, but department of transportation offices across all 50 states could easily implement a standardized test focused solely on the consequences of poor driving decisions rather than simply testing basic, driver knowledge.

I have been fortunate to have never been in a major car accident before, but I have been on the receiving end of a minor accident. Just last year, I was a front passenger when my mother’s vehicle was rear-ended by a distracted driver who was more focused on his GPS than our vehicle in front of him. We were sitting at a red light when the light turned green, and we proceeded through the intersection accordingly. However, when the car in front of us slowed down, we braked as well but the driver behind us did not, rear-ending us. Thankfully, it was not at a high rate of speed, but the whiplash was enough to leave a lasting impression upon me that education without application and accountability is futile when driving.

The scary thing about distracted driving is that it can happen in the most simple ways. For the driver who hit us, once his eyes left the road, he was vulnerable to making a poor decision and inevitably caused an accident which was completely avoidable. That experience taught me that ANY distraction while driving can change the trajectory of my life forever. For it is far too easy to be distracted while driving, which is one reason I avoid using my smartphone in any capacity while driving. The risk is simply not worth the reward if I cause an accident, and that is why I try to set an example for other teens who ride in my car as well. It’s the least I can do because their safety is literally in my hands, and I take that responsibility very seriously because it is in my power to control.

Enhanced education is truly the answer to reducing vehicular fatalities, because at the end of the day, it is up to the individual driver to make a wise or foolish decision while driving. For warnings about the dangers of driving irresponsibly are inconsequential if there are not stiffer penalties associated with distracted driving, hence the need for stricter enforcement of education on the front side. General warnings are nothing more than a band-aid fix to a catastrophic problem in the United States. Therefore, there must be additional education and testing requirements to ensure people know ahead of time what’s at stake.

That is not to say what car manufacturers such as Ford, Volvo, and Subaru are designing to enhance vehicular safety is meaningless, but technology is only valuable if we know how to use it wisely to enhance safety on the roads. However, even hands-free technology can still be a distraction, which is why abstinence (as funny as it sounds) is likely the wisest course of action for drivers who simply cannot live without touching their beloved smartphones every five minutes for fear they miss out on something.

In the end, drivers must own the decisions they make, but statewide Departments of Transportation can ensure drivers are properly warned if enhancements are made regarding testing requirements to educate drivers on the consequences of driving irresponsibly. For if 15-year-olds (for example) are extensively taught about the punitive damages their actions can incur for vehicular infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies while driving, then perhaps they will be indoctrinated with a healthy dose of fear and respect for the safety of others before getting their driver’s licenses. Granted, enhancing educational requirements will not eliminate fatalities altogether, but they are a step in the right direction for reducing the number of vehicular-related fatalities in the United States moving forward which would be a much-needed improvement.

Works Cited

^[1] “Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020.” U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Mar. 2022, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813266.