Who’s Job is it to Protect You?

Many aren’t scared of car crashes; because of the normalization of driving, they are seen as a necessary evil for convenience of transport. That being said, more are scared of getting pulled over and getting convicted for traffic violations. Getting pulled over can be dangerous, expensive, and disruptive. With this angle in mind, driver education is still a huge net positive. According to studies, those who have had driver’s education are 40% less likely to be convicted of a traffic violation. On top of that, education also reduces crashes by over 4%. There are many free options for driver education, and it could reduce car accidents incredibly.

Along with drivers, the government, state and federal, has a crucial role in reducing car crash numbers. In 2022, the Biden administration enacted the National Roadway Safety Strategy. In response to the jump in crashes in 2021, this act hopes to reduce victims of unsafe driving by helping them prevent crashes and care for them after. They will encourage driver’s education to prevent crashes from happening in the first place, as educated drivers are less likely to have an accident. Crucially, they are also aiming to design roads and vehicles to reduce the number of crashes and the severity of them. As well as setting safer speed limits, they will be enforcing speed limits more strictly. Finally, the NRSS will increase the likelihood of survival of a car crash by having speedy and effective emergency medical care. Using the law to (justifiably) punish unsafe drivers will set a precedent where safe driving is of course safer, but also unlikely to get you pulled over.

The government’s role in preventing accidents is crucial, but the average driver is arguably more important. Even with safer roads, smarter cars, and more law enforcement, a drunk or reckless driver can still kill. Although teens are more likely to be irresponsible while driving, many experienced drivers overestimate their ability to drive with directions and cause a tragedy. This is why driver’s education is important for all drivers, no one is too old to learn. Just as dangerous as distracted driving is impaired driving. Whether the driver is tired or under the influence, an impaired driver’s reaction time is slower and their judgment is weak. A good piece of advice my mother gave me is to pretend that everyone else on the road doesn’t know how to drive. Although hyperbolic, this mentality keeps us alert and always aware of our surroundings. If you rely on other drivers, they will disappoint. For example, it’s a bad idea to expect others to let you merge or to move out of your way, because many drivers will not comply. Road rage is also incredibly dangerous, 12,610 injuries and 218 murders have been attributed to road rage according to The Zebra. Not only does safe driving protect you from injury, it also protects you from tickets, fixing your car, fines, and even murder.

I have been in a minor car crash, but it didn’t scare me as much as my parents driving. In my house, the phrase “do as I say, not as I do” was our mantra. My brother and I could tell at a young age when we were making our father late for work when he would speed down our residential street. They aren’t bad people for this, “driving angry” is a common phenomena among drivers, especially those on a schedule. Many people simply don’t take safe driving seriously, like my parents. They will weigh the risk of the danger of a car crash with the possibility of not being late, and choose the former. They have mellowed out as they got older and are safer now, but growing up I knew that speeding was wrong but I could get away with it. When I first started driving, I was reckless. I accelerated aggressively, cut people off, and sped. I never faced consequences for it, other than some scolding from my parents. However, that quickly changed when a family with 2 young kids moved next door. When backing out of my driveway one day, the young boy ran in front of my car. I thankfully didn’t hit him, but I felt immensely guilty, scared, and irresponsible for not checking my rear view camera. Young drivers are more likely to break traffic rules because of their inexperience, but also because of their immaturity. However, if they have guidance from educated drivers and get driver’s education themselves, they are more likely to take driving seriously. Being surrounded by safe driving is just as important to driving as driving safely yourself.