Accident or Irresponsible?

How often do you hear about a car accident in your town? You may have had to take a second to think about that. Some may say quite often, others every day, or even more than once a day. Every day there are a total of 19,937 car accidents. Out of those 20,000 accidents, how many people think they are invincible… that it would never happen to them?

Here in Delaware, we start to talk about driving our sophomore year, at the age of sixteen. Keep in mind, our brains aren’t fully developed at this age. We can’t properly think through consequences or outcomes. We take a written portion of the class, and a driving portion, in nine weeks. At the end of this course we take a final exam, and then take the driving portion. In order to pass, we must get at least a 70/100.

I’ll never forget my own driving portion of the course. My driving partner in the course struggled. She struggled switching lanes and following procedures… from driving too fast, failing to put her turn signal on, and more. The more I felt concerned with her lack of judgment on the road, the more my instructor seemed to not care. My instructor wanted her to get the hours, pass, and be done. I’ll never forget the words my instructor said to my partner at the end of the course: “I don’t really think youre ready, but your parents should be able to help you.”

My instructor then proceeded to give us both our blue slips in order to receive our license. I was stunned. My instructor was apathetically putting immediate danger on the road. She didn’t know my partners’ home life. What if the parents let her drive without them? What if they didn’t help her learn? What if she caused an accident… would it fall on the responsibility of her instructor? Schools need to realize the ramifications of letting students on the road who truly aren’t ready. Schools need to focus on making sure every student is prepared to be on the road and drive responsibly, instead of making sure they check-off every kid on the list. We need to do better, as people.

A study in 2015 shows that Americans drive over 84 billion hours a year (U.S Department of Transportation, 2017). That’s 230,136,986.301 hours per day. After the first few months of driving as a teenager, the excitement goes away, and driving becomes a chore. Every day I hear my peers talk about how they don’t want to drive to work or school, constantly complaining. What follows the complaining is laziness. People stop using their blinkers, checking their blindspots, or even wearing seatbelts — most people do it blindly, and just forget, but what I’ve noticed, is the older the driver is, the lazier. The “rules dont apply” anymore. Everything designed and put into a car is there for our safety – not using these tools put everyone, including yourself, in danger. The importance of using the tools given to us is evident. If everyone used the tools given, even something as simple as blinkers, over 2 million car accidents a year could be avoided. Think: A blinker. A small flick of a tiny lever that motions your next move. Simple rules could save lives.

One of my closest friends got her license before me, so I used to ride along with her. It wasn’t until I got my own license and realized the responsibility of being behind the wheel, how reckless she was driving. From speeding, checking her phone, running a quick red light. She thought it was funny and “nothing,” – to see me in the passenger seat, gripping the sides of the car and scared for my life. I no longer will get in the car with her because of the many occasions I have felt my life was in danger. As humans, we aren’t perfect. Accidents will happen. The question still stands though: How many accidents are truly “accidents”… How many could have been avoided, by simply taking into account the responsibility of getting behind the wheel? I believe there needs to be stronger rules set in place… and underline to student drivers how “high stakes” driving really is. Someone’s life – including your own – is at stake the second you get behind the wheel. We must collectively do better, and understand the responsibility this holds, so please… practice patience, use your blinkers, and stay safe. Thank you.