Education is the Key to Safer Roads

Education
is the Key to Safer Roads

In
the U.S alone there is an average of 6 million car accidents per
year. This statistic, unfortunately, is the new reality as more and
more people get on the road. A crucial factor in keeping drivers safe
on the road is a quality drivers ed. Drivers ed is mainly
geared towards new drivers, but to ensure safer roads, older, more
experienced drivers must be reminded of what they once learned in
drivers ed.

Experienced
drivers like to believe they own the roads. Many drive 60 mph in a 45
zone or take curves just 5 mph faster than the speed limit. This can
be very dangerous especially when mixed with new drivers fresh from
drivers ed and even the small percentage of drivers who are under the
influence. In order to reduce the number of deaths, as a result of
driving, the laws each state has set in place must be strictly
enforced. New and experienced drivers alike must realize that there
are consequences to breaking the law.

On
my second day of drivers ed, my group and I were stopped at a gas
station, when all of a sudden we heard a loud crash. Right in front
of the gas station, there had been a car accident. One car had passed
the intersection while the light was on red and crashed into a car
that had the right of way. Witnessing an accident like this first
hand emphasized that even the best of drivers make mistakes. To avoid
tragedies similar to this one, the government can implement creative
programs to retrain drivers every few years. This will remind drivers
of the rules and regulations set in place when driving. Another thing
that can be done to create safer roads is to raise the legal driving
age. For example, here in North Carolina, the legal driving age is
16, so it could be raised to 18 years of age to ensure that those who
are on the road are adults capable of understanding the risks of
being an active driver.

Finally,
driving is a huge milestone in the lives of everyone and precautions
must be taken to ensure everyone’s safety. When someone is on the
road, they are not only risking their own life but the lives of
others on the road. This is why the local and state governments must
take action in the path to establishing safer roadways.