_Jessie Staley is a freshman studying political science at MU. She is an opinion columnist that writes about student life for The Maneater._
Driving is no joke. Every day, millions of people leave their homes, steering and accelerating 4,000-pound hunks of metal. It involves depth perception, attention, problem-solving skills and lots of practice. It also involves basic abilities like good eyesight, hearing and motor skills (no pun intended). Despite the responsibility of driving a car, many people disregard this and drive haphazardly, violating traffic laws without a second thought.
People are constantly cutting each other off, riding tails, neglecting turn signals, running red lights and more. In 2012, an average of 92 people in the U.S. died from fatal car accidents every day. In 2014 alone, 32,675 people were killed in car accidents across the U.S.
That’s only the average Joe. There are people drinking and overdosing while driving, like the heroin addict who overdosed and hit a family in St. Ann, Missouri, in April. Fifteen percent of all fatal car crashes in 2012 involved an alcohol-impaired driver, with a higher average of 30 percent on weekends.
The exam to certify drivers is arbitrary. The hardest part is waiting in line for hours. The process to gain a license should not be so simple as going to the DMV, waiting in line, taking a written test and taking a driving test. You don’t even have to get 100 percent. Many state tests can be passed with 75 percent. The written test, in many states, may be taken up to three times in one sitting. The DMV awards driver’s licenses to many underqualified people every year.
Not all people should drive. It is not to put blame on old age or disorders, but sometimes the safety of the surrounding population is more important than the privilege of the individual to drive.
It is an issue of safety.
It is unacceptable to prioritize efficiency over safety. The leniency of state and federal regulations and requirements for gaining a driver’s license shows that the state and federal governments do not prioritize public safety. It says that they are not willing to increase and universalize regulations on driver’s licenses because these actions might remove some car owners from the market.
The freedom to drive is not worth 92 deaths per day. Driving is not a right; it is a privilege. It is time the federal government steps up and make universal, safety-oriented regulations and requirements for gaining and renewing driver’s licenses.
