Access to Safety

A study done by
AAA, found that drivers’ education reduces teen crash rates by 4.3
percent and the number of traffic tickets received by nearly 40
percent. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
reported that only 62 percent of drivers have taken drivers
education. So, why such a low number? Clearly, drivers ed
helps reduce the number of crashes, which in turn reduces death. The
problem is access. States used to provide funding to allow free
access to drivers’ education but many states have either lowered,
or completely removed funding for the class. In 2017, North Carolina
was considering an incentive program, where parents of students would
pay the full amount for drivers ed and then be reimbursed
after the class up to $275, but only if the student passed the state
test for a learners permit on the first try. With 78 percent of
households living paycheck to paycheck, according to Careerbuilder,
this creates a situation where families cannot afford driver’s
education, so instead, they forgo it all together. This puts
wealthier families and poorer families in two completely different
situations, with the wealthier being much more prepared for driving.
It gives wealthier families more opportunity for learning and safety,
which is all too common in our current world. In the state of Utah,
where I received my license, drivers ed was required under the
age of 19. At that age, it was no longer required but the student had
to have had a permit for a minimum of 3 months. So as part of the 78
percent living paycheck to paycheck, I waited until I was 19 and did
not take drivers ed. My first accident was 2 months after that and
I had no idea what to do, or how to react. Drivers ed
offers a level of preparedness that is taken from many because of
money. It can help to build good, safe driving habits because you are
required to practice them nearly everyday and have a trained
professional to help you improve. To help ourselves and others be
safer, we need to push for legislation to allow access to driver’s
ed. Push for funding and for safer practices. In day to day life,
call your friends and family out on bad habits. Turn off the
cellphones and take it from others if you see them driving with it.
Point out distracted driving and allow others to call you on it as
well. If you aren’t sure if a driving practice is safe, turn to
those around you and to the resources we do have available, such as
libraries and the internet. Education is the best tool for safer
roads.