How Driver’s Education Can Save Lives

How Driver’s Education Can Save Lives

According to the World Health Organization, car accidents are among the top 10 leading causes of death in the world. As of 2016, road injuries accounted for 1.4 million people worldwide. Many, if not all, of these accidents could have been avoided and lives could have been saved. It starts with each one of us and our decisions that we make when we are behind the wheel. When teenagers and young adults are ready to take the road, it is our responsibility to teach them correctly through driver’s education, teaching them the right techniques, and warning them of the dangers of the road.

Driver’s education is where it all starts. In a study conducted by the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, they concluded that, “teens who learn to drive without taking a drivers ed course are 75% more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24% more likely to sustain an injury or die in a car crash, and 16% more likely to have an accident in the first place.” With a completed driver’s education course, drivers will be significantly safer on the road, therefore eliminating a great number of car and road accidents. Driver’s education not only needs to be a required course, but it also needs to be taught by individuals with experience.

The goal of zero road accidents is lofty and a bit unlikely. There will always be elements that are out of our control, such as adverse weather conditions, wildlife and natural elements, etc. On the other hand, there are many things that we can control when it comes to road safety. Some of the top causes of car accidents are distracted driving, speeding, drunk driving/driving under the influence of drugs, drowsy driving, and road rage. All of these elements can be easily avoided and have quick fixes.

This topic of safe driving is one that is very close to my heart. In 2005, my cousin, Macey, along with 5 other people passed away in a very tragic car accident. Macey and a group of women in her church group were heading home from a great week at their annual girl’s camp. After driving for about an hour, the leader of the group who was driving the car, was getting tired. Instead of asking the passenger to switch her and drive the rest of the way, she continued driving a bit drowsy. The driver dozed off for one second too long, and the car full of young women hit an oncoming motorcyclist. The man on the motorcycle died instantly upon impact along with the driver and my cousin, Macey. The other two girls passed away from their critical injuries later that night in the hospital. One small mistake can cost us all we have. For this reason, it is very important that those on our roadways be smart about the way they are driving and be aware of those around them.