If You Hold Your Phone, You Go Home

Teenagers
today begin driving at fifteen years old with an adult, and at
sixteen they are driving without supervision. This is a very young
age for teens to be driving alone. Many teens are not mature at this
age and are not considered adults yet. Therefore, because teens can
drive at such a young age, every teen should be required to take a
drivers ed class. This is as important as any class that
students take at school. Drivers ed can help prevent accidents
that occur because some teens do not know the laws of the road.
Furthermore, drivers ed, as a result of improving the education
of teens on the road, can reduce the number of deaths from careless
driving. This education can aid students and teens to learn more
about safe driving and to practice these important skills and
techniques on the road and reduce the number of car accidents and
related deaths.

In
addition to drivers ed, there are steps that a state, or as a
nation, the government can take. For example, in Georgia, where I
live, the state implemented a law that fines any teen driver who has
his or her phone in his or her hand. Teens can only use their phones
for directions and to call someone, but they cannot be holding the
phone while they do this. I believe that this is a great idea, and
this initiative has helped to reduce the number of car accidents and
reckless driving. The fine increases by the number of times the
driver is caught with his or her phone is his or her hand. I believe
that if more states or if all states in the United States implemented
this law, there would be a large decrease in the number of deaths
related to driving. Another law or rule that could be implemented is
that if students are caught driving with their phones in their hands
and they play a sport at their high school, they will not be able to
participate in a few games after receiving several fines for the same
reason. This would give many students a reason to drive safer and not
to have their phones in their hands while driving.

I
unfortunately have had several experiences in car accidents. One
occurred about a year ago when I was in the car with a classmate of
mine on our way to study at the library. We were leaving the parking
lot of our high school, and we stopped; however, the car behind us
did not stop and hit us. The teen was on his phone. I had whiplash
from the hit, and my classmate got a concussion.

To
be a better and safer driver, I will make sure that I never check my
phone while driving. Regardless, I know my parents would punish me if
I did this. Furthermore, I can help others to be safer by reminding
them not to use their phone while they drive.