Driving: A Worldwide Collaboration

Once teenagers reach the long awaited age of sixteen and upon passing their permit test, they can finally do what many children dream about: driving. They flock to the nearest DMV, celebrating their new apparent freedom. But is it really freedom that they are receiving, or just a new risk? It is undeniable that motor vehicles can be dangerous, but some seem to ignore the notion that new drivers are at higher risk than. Car accidents and other motor vehicle fatalities are the leading cause of death among teens worldwide. These statistics are not necessarily due to recklessness, but because of one thing: inexperience. Without having the necessary knowledge and experience behind the wheel, driving can be deadly. Although becoming an experienced driver can only be achieved after years behind the wheel, there is one thing a teen driver can and should do to become accustomed to driving safely, and that is taking Drivers Education.

Drivers Education is a great opportunity for teen drivers to gain practical experience on the road behind the wheel. But it doesn’t just give the student practical knowledge; it can also lower the chances of casualties. A study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety showed that Drivers Education lowers teen crashes by 4.3% and driving convictions by nearly 40% as compared to teens who did not take the course. Additionally, teens who completed the program scored higher on their drivers exam and received practical skills and experience that their peers simply did not. The course instructors instill solid habits within their students that help them drive safely. During all driving lessons my teacher would put phones in a nearby glove compartment, where they were unavailable to students. To this day I continue to put my phone out of reach, rendering me incapable of getting distracted by incoming texts, calls, or any other alerts on my phone. However, I keep it close enough where, if needed due to an emergency, I could easily access it quickly. By instilling good driving habits and giving students experience in a variety of different situations, Drivers Education helps young drivers be safe on the road. But Drivers Education isn’t the only factor in driving safety, and there are many things that drivers can do once they leave the classroom to ensure their own safety and others as well.

One major point of danger is distractions. Distracted driving can be exceptionally dangerous due to the variety of circumstances it can be brought upon. Drivers can limit distractions of cell phones by turning off the notifications or, as mentioned before, hiding them away in a safe but unreachable space. However, despite what you may think, phones aren’t the only distraction within a car. Eating, drinking, listening to music, or even talking to passengers is a distraction. There are simple solutions to this. You can eat and drink before beginning a drive, lower music to an appropriate level, and limit unnecessary communications with passengers. Of course, distractions aren’t the only factor when considering danger while driving. You, the driver, can have a huge impact on how safely you are driving. Emotions, for example, can lead even the best driver to become unfocused and make mindless mistakes. A driver feeling angry due to outside circumstances could even bring them to experience road rage, where the user experiences violent anger amplified by stressful driving conditions. Controlling your own emotions and remaining focused on the task at hand is an important aspect of driving. One simple step you can take to limit dangerous driving is avoiding driving while experiencing high emotions. This could mean a few things: you could simply wait a few minutes until you are emotionally ready, ask a friend for a ride, call a taxi or uber, or, if the drive is unnecessary, avoid driving altogether. There are dozens of steps you can take to prevent reckless and dangerous driving.

There are plenty of measures that can be taken to help reduce the number of motor vehicle fatalities, even while not behind the wheel. Cities and towns can institute lower speed limits or speed bumps in places known for speeding and can place troopers or officers at nearby points, observing individual speeds and issuing tickets as necessary. Additionally, in many cities roundabouts are being implemented, which slows the flow of traffic and can replace dangerous intersections. However, there are measures that individuals can follow as well, even when not driving. Individuals can prevent friends and family from driving under the influence by having a sober person drive instead. Additionally, we can all work together to stop ourselves and others from driving in unsafe conditions, such as heavy snow, rain, or tropical storms; which could cause unnecessary danger to both drivers, passengers, and rescue personnel. If you see an individual driving recklessly you can report them to the police, or, if there is a specific road hazard you are concerned about, petition your local legislators. Our leaders can and are taking measures to improve driving conditions and lower the number of vehicle fatalities, through improved infrastructure and legislation; but all of us can play a part in making the roads safe.

My school district has not been fortunate enough to avoid teen motor vehicle accidents. During the 2022-2023 school year three seniors were involved in two separate vehicle crashes, where all three individuals were hospitalized and had to undergo surgery. All three had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital where they had to undergo surgeries, which left them and their families with financial, emotional, and physical strain. In both cases the community rallied together, raising money for the affected individuals and advocating for motor vehicle safety. But they remained as an example that crashes can happen to anyone, and that, as teenagers, we are more susceptible to reckless and dangerous driving, which can have a severe effect on not just ourselves, but the people that surround us as well.

We all must work together to make the roads a safer place, no matter our age or driving status. This includes teenagers having proper experience while learning how to drive, possibly from Drivers Education courses, but also preventive measures for adult drivers to take to promote safe driving and limit carelessness on the road. Negligence on the road can have serious consequences, and we can each do something about it. After all, driving is not an competitive, individual activity; it is a complex collaboration that each of us play a role in, and we must each do our part in keeping it safe.