In the Driver’s Seat

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Long drives are meant to be fun and crazy. Living as a teenager in this world people say to, “live and enjoy high school while you can” is that true of course, but for a different reason than what teenagers realize. “Life on the highway I want to ride it all night long”, said by Rascal Flatts, isn’t the smartest or safest way to live. We have education about the road, but for some reason doesn’t stick with us through adult age. We get told what we can do to be safer on the road, but it doesn’t seem to work. We still have accidents that happen to our family and friends, and we don’t know how to prevent it. Finding life on our own isn’t easy, but we need to find things that help keep us safe and others around us.

Driver’s Education is important not only for kids in the class but also for the parents that pay for their kids’ insurance and to have a driver’s license. Being in Driver’s Education is a way for teens to be taught the ways of the road before getting on the road, getting driving experience with a trusted adult that knows what they are doing, and insurance is just a little cheaper. These are all great reasons to be put into Driver’s Ed. but there are still accidents that happen even after the class and high school. Why do accidents keep happening? Well, there are many answers for this question, but no matter what everyone points fingers and someone one will always be blamed. People will be people and make mistakes. Are they lethal mistakes? Yes. Does someone need to be blamed? Yes. Mistakes while driving can range from simply being on the phone to being under the influence. Both are bad and both need to be prevented and can be by simply putting your phone on “Do Not Disturbed” or just by calling an uber. Something that teenagers aren’t really told is why not to be on their phone while driving. Driving while on a phone is almost like being high/drunk. Using your phone while driving can lead to swerving and inability to focus on the road; like the effects of drugs and alcohol while driving.

The steps that we are taught to be safe on the road are simple to remember, like coming to a full stop, not listening to loud heavy music, and to follow the speed limit. Something that really needs to be taught, to avoid accidents, is to follow the flow of traffic. Is following the speed limit important? Of course, it is, but if there is a rush and everyone is going sixty in a forty-five zone. Living life by the rules/laws is very important especially with life on the road, but going with the flow of traffic might just save your life and someone else’s.

Going with the flow, obeying laws, and being aware of my surroundings is how I have been safe and have yet to be in a car accident. Now for my family and friends I can’t say otherwise. My dad has been irresponsible with driving before, he has had multiple speeding tickets, and has been in a few accidents himself. Being with me one time he was texting one our way home on the back roads and ended in the ditch, we were fine, but we had to climb out of the car. He apologized and ever since he has answered his phone either by using google and talking or by giving his phone to me and nothing has happened since. My sister when I was younger waited too long to get her brakes changed and we ended up breaking the speed limit, running some stop signs, and ended up in and out of a ditch. I have been a part of a few incidents and have learned from them and how to be a better driver. 

My strategies for being a safer driver consist of letting my passenger text for me, and I also do the same when I am the passenger, choosing music that I love that isn’t loud and shaking our car, and placing my phone on “Do Not Disturbed”. Through others and my own mistakes, I have acquired a lot of knowledge about being a safer driver. Even though I love to drive, I must be aware of my surroundings while always driving and be safe.