Changeward Bound

One of the pinnacle moments in a young person’s life is nervously gripping a steering wheel whilst sitting next to a stranger who is diligently judging their every move. The driver’s license test is a memory very few forget. I certainly won’t forget mine. By the way, a white line in front of a railroad track does NOT mean stop. It has been over two years since that mistake, and I still cringe at the thought. Anyways, I’m sure I’m not the only one with a story like that. Every 14 to 16-year-old in America yearns for the ability to jump in a car and speed off alone. The independence that a driver’s license provides sparkles like a diamond in the eyes of teenagers. However, a new license in hand means a new danger for daily life. In my home state of Missouri alone, 1028 people lost their lives in or around a car last year. That tally is the highest it’s been since 2006. Clearly, a problem exists. It is imperative that we address this sobering reality and work to combat the dangers of driving in each of our day-to-day lives.

By the grace of God, I have never been involved in a serious auto accident. The only experience I have in this realm is a fender bender in stop-and-go traffic. It was a low-speed collision, likely 20mph, but I still felt the effects of the impact in my neck hours later. I simply cannot imagine the terror and bodily ramifications of a high-speed crash. Any action to prevent these is worth taking in my opinion. Regarding that, I have a few ideas. First and foremost, personal devices must be shut off or put away. Distracted driving is the number one cause of accidents, according to injurylawyers.com. Thankfully, progress has been made with the introduction of driving modes on many modern smartphones, but they are too easily disengaged. My suggestion would be to incorporate technology in the USB ports of cars that lock out notifications of any phone connected to them. Secondly, car manufacturers must continue working to develop stronger safety devices in their vehicles. Again, major progress has been made, but it is never time to stop. Anything that combats human error and increases safety on the road is greatly beneficial. Finally, local government must stay mindful of road conditions, repairing pot holes, warning of dangerous weather conditions, and prioritizing road maintenance. As these actions are taken, I confidently expect a significant decrease in auto fatalities to occur.

Although I would not consider myself a reckless driver, I will not deny some bad habits I possess behind the wheel. Going along with one of my general suggestions, I should take my own advice and refuse to touch my phone when I am behind the wheel. Now, am I scrolling through my Instagram feed or texting my friends while on the road? No. Nine times out of ten, my phone is in my hand to fiddle with Spotify. Helpfully, my iPhone comes with a built-in solution: Siri. She might not be perfect, but she’s certainly helpful. Secondly, I could seriously work on giving those ahead of me some space. I am oftentimes more worried about looking slow than I am about not hitting the car in front of me. If I ever were to get into such an accident, for which the blame would almost certainly fall upon me, I would quickly forget the fear of looking slow when faced with a potentially totaled car. Finally, simply taking on the road with a stronger sense of caution and smaller sense of trust of the drivers around me will certainly keep me safer. Perhaps it is wise to believe that every driver around me is worthy of a “permit driver” sticker and I have a “baby on board” sticker. Defensive driving is, of course, vital, but many drivers today seem to enjoy riding the line between defensive and reckless driving a little too much. Keeping this trend in mind will help me be a safer member of the motorist community.

To ensure that the next generation of drivers is taught adequately, I believe it is necessary to consider tightening the regulations on the current driver education system. Currently, I believe it is too easy to obtain a driver’s license. The older influences in my life claim that their school required them to participate in a driver’s ed course, and I believe that requirement should be reinstated. Public and private schools alike should invest in a program that not only teaches the rules of the road but basic car maintenance as well. This way, kids will automatically be in a better position to safely drive and own a vehicle of their own.

For most Americans, driving is as familiar as sleeping, yet far more dangerous. Although my personal experience with driving has been mostly positive, I understand the tragedy that can stem from irresponsible driving and lack of driver education. It is a tragedy that one life is lost on the road, yet alone thousands. With death tolls like this, any positive change is desperately needed. My suggestions are just a few of a myriad of improvements that can be considered to promote driver education and general safety. My hope is that as such improvements are made, getting behind the wheel will become an ever-safer action. Moms of freedom-seeking 16-year-olds everywhere will certainly be on board with work toward safer driving education and environments.