Behind the wheel

Sixteen. At this age, you are viewed as being responsible enough to operate a motorized vehicle. Ask any sixteen-year-old what they are most looking forward to, and they will tell you getting their license. This is the start of adulthood, introducing new experiences and responsibilities. It goes without saying how much adolescents crave the feeling of freedom. No more parental escorts, just you, the wheel, and the road.

The importance of driver education is often forgotten. The objective is to get from point A to point B safely. The most important outcome is ensuring the least number of accidents or fatalities on the road as possible. For this to happen, a new driver or any individual about to take on the road, needs to be educated about safe and responsible driving. The rules of the road are taught by the driving instructors through driving schools. Their job is to prepare students to get behind the wheel and act responsibly to ensure the safety of not only themselves, but for others sharing the road around them. It is important to remember, having awareness of the people around you are as equally important as operating your own vehicle. You can only control yourself, which is true in life as well as in the driver’s seat. So, it is up to the driver to decide how they work their vehicle to the best of their ability, as well as in the most careful manner. It is also critical that adolescents learning to drive view real life documentaries that show the unfortunate events of people who have lost loved ones to deadly accidents. This brings insight to the negative repercussions of careless driving in our society, and how new drivers can avoid making the same mistakes of those who caused the death of innocent people.

The real question is how we can reduce the number of deaths related to driving? There are many simple solutions that every individual can do to answer this question. First being eliminating any possible distractions when operating a moving vehicle. The most common distractions that cause deadly accidents are the usage of cell phones, eating or drinking behind the wheel, adjusting the radio, as well as smoking. All these factors can easily take the life of you or another passenger traveling. If anything is that important that you cannot wait to do until you reach your destination, then it is encouraged that you act like a responsible driver and pull over. As for protecting your physical safety inside of the vehicle, make sure a seatbelt is always worn. The number of stories I have heard from my mom working in the hospital, of people being thrown out of the vehicle is very disturbing, simply because they were not wearing a seatbelt. Wearing a seatbelt is one of many crucial laws that every driver is expected to follow. Many laws like the one previously stated, are very important to know when first learning to operate a vehicle. Two being, a driver is only allowed to drive siblings after six months from a getting a license, and friends after one full year. This is a law many people fail to follow, which is a really big issue. There is a reason why this law was put into order, to keep loved ones out of their vehicles in case of an accident caused by newly licensed drivers. Finally, the most essential law to follow as a driver at any age is, do not drive under the influence. Drinking and driving, or being intoxicated by other substances like drugs, is the most common cause of death in the United States according to many sources. Your judgement, vision, attention, coordination as well as many other things. The biggest advice anyone can give is to not get behind the wheel if you are physically and mentally not capable of driving. These crucial steps can save the not only your life but the life of others sharing the road.

Being an irresponsible driver is a major flaw in which many people have. It can cause people to lose focus on the road and forget the importance of not only their safety, but also the safety of others. Personally, many of my friends who have recently gotten their license, or had it for around a year now, can be very irresponsible and lazy drivers. Cell phone usage is a big factor to these bad driving habits, as well as blasting music in the car. Although it is exciting to have this freedom and sing to the top of your lungs while driving, it can be a major distraction and cause irresponsible actions which may lead to accidents. Overall, driving irresponsibly can cause major or minor accidents. My parents were in an accident in 2001 when a young teenage boy, who was a new driver, cut in front of their car causing them to hit another vehicle. For whatever reason this boy thought he was making a responsible choice by cutting in front of them, but at the end of the day if he had a little more patience, then no one would be in an accident or hurt.

After going over all of these topics about driving and the precautions needed to be taken behind the wheel, it is important to recognize the steps in order to become a better and safer driver. These steps are as follows: first be a defensive driver as well as a responsible one. It is known that many drivers lack patience behind the wheel, however it is crucial that self-control and calm acts are practiced while operating a motorized vehicle. Everyone will get to their destination in a timely manner as long as this step is followed. Secondly, be aware. Awareness behind the wheel keeps the all passengers safe and can prevent accidents. Keeping eyes open for reckless drivers, animal crossings, or other ways in which accidents are caused, is another step to take. To add on, many driving schools offer improvement courses that allow drivers to become more educated and better their driving education. These can be for adults as well as elderly people, whom feel as though their skills behind the wheel can be improved. Finally, spreading awareness about those who have lost their lives in accidents on the road can better impact the community as well. Taking part in fundraisers and activates that can create a safer and more united environment for everyone. These steps can ensure the safety of all citizens and allow for better driving in society.

The significance of drivers’ education if often overlooked, however it is very crucial to each individual learning how to drive. From any age, you could be at risk behind the wheel if you are not educated properly. We are taught the necessary skills and knowledge to be responsible drivers, and how to prevent serious accidents. With this wisdom and experience, driving can be an easy form of transportation for all people whom crave the feeling of freedom, and who are eager to start a new chapter in their lives.