Live Life in Drive!

For experienced licensed drivers, turning on the car, switching gears, and pressing the gas become a mindless routine. But, steps that seem so simple can quickly become lethal. Fun conversations, loud music, and sweet drives turn into terrifying accidents, bright ambulance lights, and lingering trauma. If the privilege of a license is not improved upon and abused, it becomes a curse and prevents anyone from going anywhere. If drivers with licenses further their education and awareness of safe driving, operating motor vehicles becomes safer for all parties involved, and the roads become a place of life, instead of someone’s worst nightmare.

When drivers have accessible education, they are more cognizant of the dangers of the roads, and they are better equipped to handle the numerous circumstances that they may face while driving. A study from the National Library of Medicine found that post-license education made the number of car collisions decrease, as well as the number of traffic offenses. When the number of those accidents reduces, the number of deaths directly dwindles as a result. This study, along with countless others, helps shed light on the necessity of informing drivers of what it means to operate a motor vehicle safely. The curriculum in the safe driving courses would teach operators skills like traffic laws, how to safely handle speed, and proper vehicle upkeep, along with warning of the dangers of outside distractions, hindered driving, how to manage traffic-filled roads, and crimes like driving under the influence or past curfew. It would also teach drivers the importance of self-reflection before driving, assessing physical and mental states, outside conditions, car conditions, as well as possible dangers. It would allow them to focus on the roads and make safe choices, slowing down and being considerate.

There are multiple ways to ensure that drivers are safe and the roads are safe. One of these ways would be to use slower speeds so that drivers and surrounding cars have more reaction time in the care of potential accidents. Quality vision through proper headlights would allow drivers to roads, pedestrians, and other obstacles more clearly, avoiding more collisions. Limiting distractions including the amount of people in your car, the volume of music, and car speed will assist drivers in fully focusing on the road, so all participants can remain happy and safe. At the very least, all drivers and passengers should also ensure that they are wearing seatbelts, as in the case of accidents, they are the most essential tool in saving lives. I believe that the thing that would aid in preventing distracted drivers is the elimination of cell phones while on the road. In this day and age, our phones are used for everything, including music, GPS, communication, and more, but when these take attention away from driving, they become extremely dangerous. Because of that, I think drivers should hold off on using them until stopped or it is safe to do so. If all drivers followed these rules, road and car safety would be exponentially improved. The more drivers that obtain this knowledge, the more deaths that could potentially be avoided.

I hold the topic of safe and educated driving very near and dear to my heart because I was involved in a car accident that has affected my physical and mental health still to this day. On the second-to-last day of sixth grade, my sixteen-year-old brother was driving me and my sister home from school. His music was loud, we were all chatting, and it was raining hard. We were oblivious of what was to come next. In the span of a few seconds, he lost control of the wheel, the car slid on the water, and we were speeding head-on toward other cars, road signs, and medians. We flipped and spun all over, and as the airbags deployed, me and my sister were screaming. Once over, kind strangers helped us into their warm, safe cars while we waited for our parents to come pick us up. We left with minor scratches and bruises, but the experience will always haunt all of our minds. For weeks, I refused to get into a car without screaming and crying, and I was afraid of another accident. I was diagnosed with PTSD shortly later and decided from that day on, I would not drive.` I have spent immense amounts of time and effort working through it, and now, at 17, I am a confident and proud driver. I strongly believe in the importance of safe and aware driving so that other humans can experience the sweet joys of having the privilege to drive, and using our licenses for good!