Name: Brianna Song
From: Henderson, Nevada
Votes: 0
Song
2
Brianna
Song
The
First Step Behind The Wheel
The
moment a 16 year old teen takes the first step into the driver’s
seat, keys in hand, and
no
parental supervision in the car, is the moment when the word freedom
takes over their mind and body. But what they don’t know
is,
how
dangerous that freedom is. Inexperience and immaturity are why car
wrecks are taking thousands of teens lives a year.
In
Nevada it is required to do Drivers Ed, before you get your
license if you are
under
the age of 18 years old. But those 18 year olds that never had the
education will lack the knowledge of vehicle control, traffic
maneuvers, and the risks of fatalities everytime they go on the road.
Driving education prepares an aspiring driver for the serious reality
behind the wheel and will reduce the number of deaths related to
driving. Not only does drivers ed teaches someone inexperienced
how to operate a vehicle, but also emphasises the risks of being on
your phone while driving, being distracted by other passengers in the
car, drunk driving and drugs.
I
have experienced every fatal risk first hand.
My
father since I can remember, has
felt
comfortable enough to drive one hand on the steering wheel and the
other with a phone in hand. Whether that be taking me to school,
going to the store, or taking me to karate practice, he was either
texting someone or continuing his movie while behind the wheel.
I
have a friend who
recently got a perfect
score on his driver’s test. After a couple months of having his
driver’s license, he swerved onto the sidewalk just to avoid hitting
someone crossing the street he did not see. And all of this was the
aftermath of him being distracted by the loud music and loud friends
in the car.
It
shouldn’t have to be addressed, but it is a growing epidemic that
needs to be stopped. Underage drinking is unfortunately common at my
age. Even the best kids do it, whether that be at parties, prom, and
homecoming. It would be considered weird if there was no drinking.
And the consequences of this night of fun can be short lived, the
moment they get in the driver’s seat. I have experienced it. The
night of prom and everyone really wanted to drink, but had curfews to
meet. So my friends made the choice to drive after drinking, denying
they had
drank a lot.
Swerving and sudden brakes consisted the drive. I will
never be a passenger and be a possible victim of the highly possible
crash that
should’ve came again.
The
moment I step into the passenger’s seat, key in hand, no parental
vision, ready to takeover the freedom I’ve always wanted. I will
not make the same mistakes as the people that put their lives and the
lives of others at risk. I will leave my phone silent everytime I go
in the car, I will drive safely and make sure my passengers
understand I need to focus on driving, and I will never drink
intoxicated. Not when I’m 17 and not when I’m 21. I understand
how scary the consequences of being negligent of the road are and
I’ll emphasise it to anyone I get in the car with. Anyone who gets
behind the wheel has to understand the responsibility and serious
implications of being a driver, it’s a growing crisis that I’m
ready to fight against.
