Driver Education Initiative – In the Driver’s Seat

In
The Driver’s Seat

Faith
Taylor

When
I was 15 years old, I got my learner’s permit. It was easily one of
the best days of my childhood, because I was finally able to do what
all of my friends were raving about. I soon realized that driving was
more serious than a fun trend or a rite of passage. One of the most
clear rules given to me before buckling up in the driver’s seat for
the first time was the limits on who I could drive. With my permit, I
was strictly prohibited from driving friends who weren’t related to
me. I also had to have a parent or adult over the age of 21 in the
passenger’s seat at all times. Being so excited about the permit
itself, I didn’t mind the rules at first; until I saw everyone I
knew breaking them. The first time I saw a group of high school
sophomores taking a joy ride breaking every rule imaginable, I was in
shock. Why would they risk losing their permit for a couple of
dangerous minutes of fun? I then realized that I am familiar with
that desire- I wanted my permit because everybody else had gotten
one, and those kids wanted to break the rules because everybody else
did.

Naturally,
my mom forbade me to be a passenger in a car without an adult in it.
One day though, I was in an emergency and had to be driven by someone
who wasn’t any older than I was. His phone was resting on a mount
that allowed him to see his phone in a non distracting way for GPS
purposes. I thought that putting it on his air vent was a brilliant
place to put his phone. A couple minutes into the drive, we started
talking about our parent’s rules for us driving, and he mentions an
app his mom had him install on his phone. Whenever he receives a
text, whoever texted him receives a text back saying that he is
driving and cannot respond at the moment, but if it is an emergency,
call him. This seems to be the best method to stay in touch with
others while keeping focus on the road. Soon after that revelation, I
downloaded the app.

So
many teenagers deliberately use their phones while driving and
endanger their lives over a text, or a social media check. Regardless
of your age, your phone should never be in your hand while driving.
Encouraging others to download that app, or to even power off their
phones while driving to prevent temptation is a step I can take to
help others be better and safer drivers. Obeying the law and
following the rules of the road is another way to silently remind
others what is appropriate and what is not when behind the wheel. I
hope to be a good example to others, while also becoming wiser when
it comes to driving myself.