The Importance of Drivers Ed in Reducing Driving Deaths

Candace
Casimir 3.29.20

 

Driver’s
ed is the most powerful tool in the fight to reduce the number of
driving deaths. Drivers ed programs are typically aimed
toward informing teens on safe driving practices because automobile
accidents are the number one cause of death for this demographic.
According to the University of Nebraska, young drivers that have not
completed drivers ed are 75 percent more likely to get a
traffic ticket and 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal
accident.

There
are multiple ways to prevent teen motor vehicle crashes. Many of
these strategies require parents/guardians to become more involved in
their teen’s life, as they are the people with the greatest control
over them and can best enforce rules. Moreover, parents must stress
the dangers of drinking. Although a common suggestion, it’s
important that this is rhetoric continually enforced. Many teens
don’t realize that BAC at all levels increases the likelihood of
accidents; risky driving doesn’t only begin once you are legally
drunk. Furthermore, parents should try to limit passengers in the
cars of their teens. A single teenage passenger increases the risk of
a crash significantly and the risk grows with each additional
passenger. Parents should also encourage driving with no more than
one friend at a time until they are 18 years of age. Lastly, monitor
the sleep schedule of young drivers. According to a study conducted
by the National Sleep Foundation, almost half of all student drivers
reported that they don’t get sufficient sleep on school nights. Sleep
deprivation results in increased aggression and impulsivity,
increased susceptibility to alcohol intoxication, a lack of
attention, and impaired judgment.

I’ve
never been in any serious car accidents; however, I have borne
witness to reckless driving with both friends and family. A very
common form of irresponsible driving is “distracted driving”,
which is the practice of driving a motor vehicle while engaged in
another activity. Typically, that “other activity” is in
reference to a mobile phone or other electronic devices, but it also
includes, eating, turning the radio or socializing with passengers.
It is vital that drivers understand the potential consequences of
their actions. Driving requires manual, cognitive, and mental
concentration, so even the smallest of distractions could precipitate
a catastrophic event. Such practices prove even more precarious at
night time when visibility is greatly reduced.

In
addition to following simple rules like adhering to road signs and
traffic lights, I will implement safe driving practices by reducing
the number of distractions inside the car and keeping my eyes on the
road. Motor vehicle accidents act as the leading cause of death for
teens in the United States. Fortunately, these accidents are
preventable as long as teens follow the proven strategies that can
improve the safety of drivers on the road.