Drivers ed: Empowering People to Make the Right Decisions

38,000
people. That’s the size of a large town. That’s also the number
of people who die from car accidents every year in crashes in the
U.S. alone
(“Road”). Young adults are 5 to 10 times more likely to
experience injuries from car crashes than the safest driving groups
(Bates), and this is due to many factors, including natural
disposition. However, there are a few factors that can be controlled.
The best way to do this is by providing drivers ed to teens and
continuing education to licensees.

Driver
education is crucial because knowledge empowers people. By providing
others with important information that could save their life, you
allow them to make informed decisions. Drivers ed may
effectively and practically reduce crash rates, as it directly
affects the decision one makes. Risky behavior, such as texting,
drinking and failure to wear a seatbelt, contribute strongly to this
high rate of driving deaths (Bates). With education, drivers are
empowered to change their behavior, and are therefore less likely to
die from crashes.

Steps
such as increased signage, mandated continuing drivers ed and
periodic vision and driving ability tests should be taken to reduce
driving deaths. As technology develops, there will be a recurring
need to provide guidance on the new rules and regulations (Williams).
Mandating continuing drivers ed, as well as increasing the
availability and simplicity of sign postage (Ceunynck) will help
reduce accidents and deaths on the road.

I
was almost involved in a serious car accident when a speeding car
tried to cut me off in a one-lane feeder road. Fortunately, my
defensive driving skills prevailed, and I got out of the ordeal
spotless, but the cars in front of me were badly damaged when the
crazed driver veered into them. This near-death experience shook me
to my core, but ultimately helped me realize how precious life is and
how important good driving practices are. Simple ways to make driving
much safer are to always use your seatbelt, reduce distractions (such
as phones, food, and drinks) on the road, and to never drive while
intoxicated. It’s a matter of national safety.

Works
Cited

Bates,
Lyndel J, et al. “Factors Contributing to Crashes among Young
Drivers.” Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, Sultan
Qaboos University Medical Journal, College of Medicine & Health
Sciences, Aug. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4117653/.

Ceunynck,
Tim De, et al. “Proactive Evaluation of Traffic Signs Using a
Traffic Sign Simulator.” European Journal of Transport and
Infrastructure Research, Mar. 2015,
journals.open.tudelft.nl/index.php/ejtir/article/view/3068.

“Road
Safety Facts.” Association for Safe International Road Travel,
10 Mar. 2020, www.asirt.org/safe-travel/road-safety-facts/.

Williams,
AF, and SA Ferguson. “Drivers ed Renaissance?” Injury
Prevention, BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, 1 Feb. 2004,
injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/10/1/4.