Changing the World: One Driver At a Time

Every time you go on the road, you don’t just put your life on the line; you potentially endanger others, too. According to the CDC, motor vehicle traffic accidents account for nearly 922,000 years of potential life loss and are the leading cause of death for Americans younger than 54 years old. While it may be difficult to decrease our time on the road, we can definitely work to decrease driving accidents through proper education and good habits that make the road safer for everyone.

An essential part of reducing the number of deaths that come from driving is proper driver education, which can equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to operate their vehicles safely. For one, understanding and following traffic rules and regulations will drastically decrease the number of collisions or accidents caused by violations. Driving education can help drivers know the speed limits of different neighborhoods, the proper reaction to weather changes or unexpected situations, or even how to respond to unavoidable accidents.

To further improve road safety, the government and appropriate agencies may have to enforce stricter traffic laws. The main reason drivers are “reckless” on the road is because they don’t fear repercussions. As a teenager myself, I’ve encountered situations where my friends drive at 60 mph on the 35 mph roads right around my school campus. At the time, it may have seemed exhilarating, but I’ve come to realize that the consequences of a potential accident are not worth a few minutes of fun. Whether it be speed limits, seat belt usage, or DUI regulations, having more effective law enforcement can help discourage poor driving habits. Each of these factors are leading causes of fatal car crashes, yet could be easily avoided.

Another additional improvement could include more stringent licensing requirements. For teenagers in California, completing a supervised driving log with 50 hours of driving practice is mandatory to apply for a license. However, this isn’t really enforced. Paired with the fact that online driver education programs are easy to pass without actual comprehension, the average teenage driver is probably quite underprepared. The same argument applies to new adult drivers–in fact, driving logs and education programs aren’t even required for them! While stricter licensing might be frustrating, it’s a worthwhile investment in promoting road safety.

This matter is especially relevant to me, as I’ve had a rather life-threatening experience with car crashes as a child. When I was seven years old, I would often walk home from school with my grandmother. This one fateful day, I paused before an intersection, bending down to tie my shoe. While I was doing this, two cars collided right in front of me: the smaller car was propelled into the lawn of a house, and the larger car had a huge dent on the side. A few days after, I remember my grandmother speculating that the crash happened because one of the drivers pressed the gas pedal instead of the brakes. For obvious reasons, I stopped walking home for a while. The gravity of the situation didn’t quite register for me at that age, but now looking back, it’s truly a miracle I wasn’t caught in between the accident.

As I begin my own journey to driving, I’ve become more and more aware of just how dangerous driving can be. Safe driving has only increased in importance, as this year, jaywalking was decriminalized in my home state of California, leading to an increase in perilous pedestrian crossings. Knowing this, I’ve been trying to install a habit of scanning all intersections and routinely checking all mirrors to be aware of the road circumstances and potential hazards. I place my phone away from me and don’t touch it while driving, asking my passengers to help me check texts or accept calls if necessary. Also, I’ve learned to never underestimate traffic and schedule out ample time for traveling. After observing my mother, who often had to complete dangerous driving procedures to send my brother and I to our activities on time, I realized that running late can seriously pressure someone to undertake reckless and dangerous choices. By leaving my house earlier, I can enjoy the luxury of driving safely without feeling pressured to rush. An extra 15 minutes might deter you from speeding, running red lights, or turning carelessly. This, in turn, lessens your chance of an accident. In following these habits and sharing them with you, I hope to complete my duty in contributing to road safety and inspire you to, as well!

In 2021, the data-gathering platform Statista reported that there were 232.8 million licensed drivers in the United States. That’s nearly 89% of the adult population. As we add on the motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians that share the road, it becomes increasingly important for each person to fulfill their responsibility in reducing accidents. This isn’t just an individual problem, but a collective issue that affects each of us. Essentially, we’re all in this together!