Today’s challenges of a young driver

I spend many if not most of my waking hours playing and training for softball. Ever since I was very young, I have gradually honed my skills and refined my craft, eventually becoming able to play both club and school softball. Because of the many hours of practice, travel all over the country for tournaments, and games, as well as the literal blood, sweat, and tears, I have realized I must drive to get where I am going.

Having said all that, it can be challenging getting to each-and-every practice, game and tournament without having to drive to each. I did take driver’s education in high school my junior year. The class provided a strong basic knowledge of the difficult task of learning to drive through the classroom. The other portion of the class requirements to pass the class is 40 hours of driving with my parents and an additional 10 hours at night. Learning the basic essentials of driving certainly helped me to realize that with good driving techniques comes good driving habits. This ultimately is what is necessary to help reduce the number of deaths as a result of driving. But, I kept hearing stories from older family members, friend and even my parents how “back in the day” driving was part of the curriculum of drivers ed. Now this I do believe what be a benefit to help learn and to practice those good habits to further reduce deaths because of driving. Not to take anything away from my family who helped me drive but driving with family can be stressful and could lead to bad habits. I would like to advocate bringing back driving as part of the course learning.

In today’s world a teenager, and most everyone else, has so many distractions that there needs to be certain steps followed or you will just go down a path of failure. The cell phone is the biggest offender of these distractions. There is the evils of social media that will take away from your driving. Music on your phone – you have to turn your attention away from the road to put on your favorite song or artist. Answering, or trying to answer, texts from your friends. Checking alerts that arise from time to time. As I learned to drive and after I got my driver’s licence one rule was no phone AT ALL while in the car. My parents were diligent about checking my phone after each time I got home. A step that should continue is NO riders until you have had your licence 6 months. I have seen this step broken time and again. I have had many friends upset with me because I refused to ride with them to and from practices or games. But an even bigger step is for our parents to follow the rule of no riders until 6 months with a licence has been accomplished. Following the steps of no phone, no riders, and our parents accepting and following this rule, and no music will help reduce deaths related to driving. The biggest reason for death as a result of driving is a simple one – DISTRACTIONS! Eliminate distractions, as best you can, and you will help eliminate deaths as a result of driving.

I personally have never been in an automobile accident, but I have come close. While learning to drive someone who drove with me as I learned would get so excited and scream to stop, or watch out, or evenyell “what are you doing?” This did nothing to help curb any anxiety I might have while learning to drive. And watching my brothers was quite an eye opener that helped me be a better driver. The light turns yellow and their answer was to gun it. Never driving the speed limit. They always exceeded the limit by at least 10 MPH. Trying to ask someone not to yell While I am still learning to be a good driver can be a daunting task.

After I finally got my driver’s licence and drove “alone” for 6 months I sat down with my parents to discuss the steps I will take to be a good driver: I will stay off my phone. I WILL pull over if I need to use my phone. The radio will be set before I drive and no changes until I reach my destination. I will not let my friends distract me. I am now a CONFIDENT driver!