Benefit or Privilege?

I can remember when I first got my driver’s license a few years back. It was like I was able to go wherever I wanted when I wanted. I felt as though I had gained a newfound freedom. Obviously, I had curfew, but I was and am almost never home because I’m always out with my friends, at school, or at practice. I’ve always liked driving and loved to listen to music while doing so. Being able to drive was beneficial to my parents because they didn’t have to take me places every day. I was always careful because before practicing with my learner’s permit, I hadn’t ever driven any sort of vehicle unless you counted ATVs and four wheelers. I took the driver’s education class at my school and learned about traffic laws and general knowledge to be able to drive safely. I remember one time during the class when our resource officer, Will, came in to talk to us about driving. He told us funny stories about situations he’s delt with, but he also told us sad stories where people had passed away due to car accidents. For me, it really put into perspective how important it is to learn about driver education and how to drive safely.

Although some things you learn in driver’s education can be sad or morbid, it is imperative to understand and take in. Educating drivers on the statistics of car accident deaths can encourage them to take the privilege of driving seriously. Driving is fun and is enjoyable, but drivers must remember that there are risks when it comes to driving or even getting into a car. Being knowledgeable about driver education can be the difference between life and death and being responsible for another person’s life that was lost. Even one more driver being educated on can help make the roads safer for them and the other drivers around them. Listening to real people’s stories who have been in a car accident or have caused them can help raise awareness about how reckless driving causes very serious consequences.

To decrease the deaths caused by car accidents educating people on safe driving is essential. If drivers are educated, they will be less likely to get into accidents. I think that implementing mandatory driver’s education for high school students is a great start. In my driver’s education class I learned valuable information that I believe has helped me avoid car accidents. Teaching students early on can prepare driving in the future and educate them on the importance of safe driving. Promoting wearing seatbelts and the implementation of technologies such as automatic braking and advanced airbags can decrease the number of deaths caused by cars as well. Discouraging distracted driving and drunk driving can help decrease these numbers as many of the accidents are caused by these two things. By raising awareness about these things, drivers know how dangerous it is to drive unsafely.

I have only been in a slight car accident where my family and I were rear ended on the way home from vacation, but a friend of mine was in a very bad car accident. Two years ago, one of my fellow teammates on the cheerleading team got into a car accident on the way home from a basketball game. She was very lucky to be alive because of the road she was driving. The road was very curvy, and she could have easily drove straight off the mountain. She was distracted reaching for something and didn’t see that she was in the other lane. There was a boy driving in that same lane and it was a head on collision. Thankfully both my friend and the boy lived, but they were injured very badly. After hearing this happened, I was scared to even change the air conditioning in my car while driving for a long time.

Being a driver myself, I must always be in the right mindset when driving. This means not driving when I am very sad or mad. I am guilty of taking drives to let off steam when I might be stressed or upset, but this can make it dangerous for me to drive. Other things that I can do to become a safer driver are putting my phone away and fixing my air or music settings before I start driving. This can help reduce distractions and allow me to focus on just driving. To help other drivers be safe I can encourage them to wear their seatbelts when driving and talk to those who have dangerous driving habits directly. Although talking to someone about dangerous driving behavior can be taken offensively by the other person, it could also stop that person from getting into an accident if they are aware of the issue. By knowing driver education and practicing safe driving, you become a role model to other drivers and can be the reason a car accident death is avoided. Being able to drive may benefit you and others around you, but it is a privilege that must be taken seriously.