The Most Dangerous Privilege

Olivia
Zaykowski

12th
Grade

St.
John the Baptist DHS

West
Islip, New York

The
Most Dangerous Privilege

The
ability to drive is one of the greatest privileges granted to a
teenager. At a young age, we are provided with a newfound freedom,
the opportunity to obtain a new skill, and further advance towards
adulthood. However, this privilege does not come without risks. As a
junior in high school who had finally gotten her permit, I got behind
the driver’s seat of my mother’s car starry-eyed, as she sat frozen
in the passenger’s
seat. She had finally agreed to let me drive home from school one
day, and I was ecstatic. Unfortunately, one of my first driving
experiences turned sour when a seemingly innocent driver neglected
their stop sign and nearly t-boned my mom’s
car. Luckily I had slammed on the brakes quick enough so that there
was minimal damage, however, not all damage can be seen on the
surface. I can surely say that the experience altered my perception,
and opened my eyes to the dangerous world of driving.

Driver
safety is vital in reducing the number of deaths on the road, which
is why it is necessary that all future drivers receive driver
education. Just as a government would fail without laws and
regulations, serious consequences would ensue without rules on the
road. It is crucial that all new drivers are not only taught how to
drive correctly, but also to effectively observe the many rules and
regulations associated with driving, as most accidents are
predictable and can be prevented by taking appropriate actions. One
of the most important lessons learned in drivers ed is to keep
a clear mind while driving. In order to prevent accidents, one must
remain completely devoted to the task at hand, arriving at their
destination safely, and have no distractions inside or outside of the
car. The most significant distraction, cell phone, has taken too many
lives, as many irresponsible drivers deem answering a text more
important than preventing the death of another driver. Once driver
education students understand that certain actions pose a threat to
their own lives and the lives of others, they will hopefully
contribute towards reducing the number of car accidents and deaths.

Every
privilege comes with a serious degree of responsibility, and as
drivers we must take into consideration that every time we enter a
car, our life is at risk, no matter who is driving. Accidents can
happen in a matter of seconds, so we must remember to always be alert
and responsible while driving, by following all laws and using our
best judgement. The issue stems from human error, as people tend to
be naturally selfish, and more concerned with their own needs and
wants. One may want to check their phone while on the road because
they just have to know what their friends are saying, but that
decision could result in a loss of life. When driving, safety must be
valued above all, and if all people took this notion more seriously,
the number of driving related deaths could diminish significantly.