Freedom and Fear

Freedom
and Fear

As a teenager one of the most exciting times in your life is getting
your license. In your mind this is the biggest milestone of your
entire childhood. In fact, the momentous occasion marks the
approaching end of your childhood and entrance into the adult world.
To teens this is amazing but to our parents and family this is the
most dreaded times of their lives. They are consumed with fear as
they watch us grab that piece of plastic and those car keys to head
out on the open road, and they have a reason to be. Roads today are
dangerous and often deadly for teens. According to Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety a total of 2,734 teenagers died in
accidents involving a motor vehicle in 2017, and that fact alone
gives guardians and teens themselves a good reason to worry about
safety while driving.

The best way to combat this fear is to make sure that all drivers,
both new and experienced, are properly and thoroughly educated about
safe driving habits including wearing seatbelts and not using
handheld devices while operating a vehicle. We live in a world today
where technology is at the center of our lives and although
technology is useful it can also be the cause of great damage. The
National Safety Council says that cell phone use while driving causes
1.6 million crashes each year. This is an enormous amount of
accidents caused by a preventable distraction. Not buckling up in car
while either driving or riding as a passenger has also been of major
concern for the safety of people on the road. In 2016, 23,714 drivers
were killed in vehicular related accidents and of those people who
were teens and adults 53% were not wearing a seatbelt. This is a
heartbreaking amount of people who lost their lives because of not
taking one step towards a safer driving experience.

The best way to educate people about being safe on the road is to
live as an example, especially for those who are just learning to
drive. Parents should always remember to be a living example for
their children by buckling up and refraining from using distracting
technology while driving. People should also not be afraid to speak
up if they feel they are in an unsafe driving situation. If you enter
a car with someone you know and they don’t buckle up or use their
cell phone while driving, remind them that you care about them and
ask them to follow the previously mentioned safety procedures. I
myself have had to do this with family and in the end, I felt safer
while being in the car with them and they thanked me for reminding
them of being safe on the road. Never be afraid to do the right
thing, whether that means being an example or giving a friendly
reminder, we all have the power to make the road a safer space.