Driving Distractions: Reflections and Commitments for Safer Roads

Driving is a skill that many people take for granted, but it also comes with great responsibility and risk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 6 million car accidents happen in the United States every year, and about 36,000 people die as a result. Many of these accidents and deaths are preventable, and driver education is one of the most effective ways to reduce them.

Driver education is the process of teaching and learning the rules, skills, and attitudes necessary to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally. Driver education can help drivers of all ages and experience levels to improve their knowledge, awareness, judgment, and decision-making on the road. Driver education can also help drivers to avoid common mistakes and risky behaviors that can lead to crashes, such as speeding, tailgating, running red lights, texting, driving under the influence, and driving while fatigued.

Driver education can be delivered in various formats, such as classroom instruction, online courses, behind-the-wheel training, simulation, and parent-supervised practice. Research has shown that driver education can have positive effects on driver performance and safety outcomes.For example, a study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that young drivers who completed driver education were 75 percent less likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident, and 16 percent less likely to have an accident than those who did not. Another study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that teen drivers who received comprehensive driver education had lower crash rates and traffic violations than those who received minimal or no driver education.

However, driver education alone is not enough to prevent all car accidents and deaths. There are also other steps that can be taken by drivers, passengers, policymakers, and society at large to reduce the number of deaths related to driving. Some of these steps are:

• Follow the graduated driver licensing (GDL) system. This system limits high-risk driving situations for new drivers by imposing restrictions on night driving, passenger numbers, cell phone use, and other factors. Studies have shown that GDL systems can reduce teen crash rates by as much as 50 percent.

• Wear seat belts and use child safety seats. Seat belts can reduce the risk of death or serious injury by about 50 percent for front-seat occupants and 75 percent for rear-seat occupants. Child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers.

• Avoid driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Alcohol and drugs can impair a driver’s vision, coordination, reaction time, judgment, and decision-making. Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs is illegal and deadly. In 2019, nearly 30 percent of all traffic fatalities involved alcohol-impaired drivers.

• Avoid driving while distracted by phone calls, text messages, music, navigation systems, or other devices. Distracted driving can take a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. Distracted driving can increase the risk of crashing by three times or more.

• Drive defensively and courteously. Defensive driving means anticipating potential hazards and being prepared to react to them. Courteous driving means respecting other road users and following traffic rules. Defensive and courteous driving can help prevent conflicts, road rage, and accidents.

• Maintain your vehicle in good condition. Regularly check your vehicle’s tires, brakes, lights, mirrors, oil, and other components. A well-maintained vehicle can perform better and safer on the road.

• Keep your distance from other vehicles. Driving too close to the vehicle in front of you can reduce your reaction time and increase your chances of rear-ending them. The recommended following distance is at least three seconds in normal conditions and longer in bad weather or heavy traffic.

I have personally witnessed the consequences of driving irresponsibly when I was involved in a car accident last year. I was riding as a passenger in my friend’s car when he decided to run a red light at an intersection. He did not see the incoming truck from the left side and crashed into it. Fortunately, we were both wearing seat belts and escaped with minor injuries. However, the truck driver was seriously injured and had to be hospitalized. The accident also caused damage to both vehicles and disrupted traffic for hours.

The accident taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of obeying traffic laws and being careful on the road. I realized that driving is not a game or a joke; it is a serious responsibility that affects not only myself but also others around me. I also learned that one bad decision can have lasting consequences for myself and others.

Since then, I have taken steps to become a better and safer driver as well as help others do the same. I have completed a driver education course online that refreshed my knowledge of traffic rules and safe driving practices. I have also practiced my driving skills with my parents, who gave me constructive feedback and tips. I have also pledged to never drive while impaired, distracted, or aggressive. I have also encouraged my friends and family members to follow the same principles and to take driver education courses if they need them.

I believe that driver education is essential for reducing the number of deaths as a result of driving. Driver education can help drivers of all ages and experience levels to improve their driving abilities and behaviors. However, driver education is not the only solution; there are also other steps that can be taken by drivers, passengers, policymakers, and society at large to make the roads safer for everyone. By working together, we can prevent car accidents and save lives.