As we all know the stats on driver fatalities and accidents is long, especially in Wisconsin where we have a culture of drinking and driving. Yet, we do very little to educate driver's on how drinking affects their driving. Most of what we know is myths or hearsay. Furthermore, we know have more bicyclists on the road, pedestrians with more rights, and drivers who may or may not know how to change their driving behavior to accommodate.
Our public service and State government's response has been to create a new law, change a new law, add a fine, and/or up the fine, when I propose that we spend more resources on driving education and less resource on enforcement. We have to renew our vehicles and our licenses quite often, yet for 25 years I have not needed to learn anything new about driving. I doubt that...I know there is lot that drivers could gain from quick, convenient education tutorials on driving.
It is only when we get ticketed for certain driver behavior that we are required to attend an educational session. Yes, we now already have a mark on our records (possible resulting in job loss, income), we have to pay a large fine, our insurance goes up (more money), we have to spend an inconvenient amount of time in a driver's ed class missing work (more money) and time for our kids (more money and invaluable time), and we have to pay money for this class (more money). It is quite expensive!
Now, those who are lower income probably can't afford any of this and they are put at a disadvantage all because the State did not provide the necessary education and information to us ahead of time.
I propose that the State find more proactive ways to make the roads safe rather than waiting until after the fact to educate driver's on the hazards. Lobbying groups should spend more time on increasing resources for required education prior to vehicle and licensing renewal and less time on changing laws and increasing finds that come too late.
