“In the Driver’s Seat

BOOM! Knocked unconscious off the side of the road, buried in the rubble where no one could see us. My mom described this terrible accident. She was in college and hopped in the car with her roommates to help another friend who was in an accident. She fell asleep in the back seat of a car and her college roommate decided to take her jacket off while driving. The car lost control and flipped into a ditch. She sustained a neck injury and had cervical spinal fusion on her neck. She almost died! This accident changed her life.

Before I started driving, my mom made me take a defensive driving course through the sheriff’s office. I also had a teen driving course and she hired a private company to fill in any gaps she missed. She took driving seriously. I could not have anyone in my car for almost two years and she did not allow me to drive with anyone for the same amount of time. I remember being mad when my friends rode with each other, and I had to ride alone. I did not understand it. She blessed me and prayed with me before I drove every morning. She taught me the importance of being safe when I am driving.

Having experienced a minor car accident while driving with my babysitter in middle school, I understand the need for more driving education. My babysitter was turning right onto a main road, and she did not realize the car in front of her had stopped so she ran right into him. Even this minor impact caused my neck muscles to be sore for some time. Can you imagine a larger impact? We must make our roads safer.

The teen driving class I took through AAA scared me. It showed graphic accidents of what happens when you text and drive and what happens to a distracted driver. If more teens were offered this opportunity, there would be less texting and driving and fewer distracted drivers. Therefore, leading to fewer deaths related to accidents.

Several steps need to be taken to reduce driving-related deaths. We need to teach driver education in both public and private schools. These programs should be funded by the government so that all kids can get this education. Taking field trips to the hospital to see the suffering sustained by the victims will be an eye-opening experience. Taking a teen driving class that simulates an accident will raise awareness of driver safety. Laws that limit the number of kids in a teen’s car will also help. A car full of distracted teens is an accident waiting to happen. We also need to get enough sleep at night so that we are alert when driving. While some of these things take time and may be inconvenient to parents, they are necessary to make changes and keep everyone safe.

As a teenager, I was very angry at my mom. I thought she went overboard due to her experience in college. Steps that I can take to be a better driver are first to listen to my parents and elders — to be teachable. As teens, we think we know everything, and we are not willing to take advice. Second, take a defensive driving course. Most local sheriff’s offices offer free courses. If your school has driver’s education, take advantage of it and utilize a private company if you can. Limit the number of friends in your car. The more friends you have in your car, the higher the chances of an accident. Do your best, as a new driver, to get home before dark. I fought my mom on this one since I did not want to miss out on the fun. However, one night when I was driving home with a friend in my car, a man wandered into the road, and I almost hit him. I was hysterical, crying, and afraid to drive again. Thankfully, I got my friend home safely and I made it home as well. This was a life-changing experience. It taught me how things can change in a second. Had I killed someone, I would not be able to live with myself, let alone go to college and be successful. My mom always said prevention is better than cure. It is important to be proactive. Had I listened and come home in the daylight, I would have avoided this traumatic experience. My mom always said, “Nothing good happens after midnight”. She may be right.

It is important to take some driver education courses to reduce teen-related accidents. We all must do our part to keep our roads safe and to protect not only ourselves but the public as well. As teens, we are not invincible, and things can change suddenly. Let us follow the rules on the road and be responsible drivers.