Our Costly Privilege

I was shaken awake in the middle of the night by my dad. He told me we had to go pick up my mom, she had been in a car wreck. I remember being scared, fiddling with my hands to distract myself as I sat in the back seat. My dad drove us for what seemed like an eternity until we saw flashing flights and a lot of cars. I was only four at the time and yet these moments had such a profound impact on me that I still remember them. My mom was pregnant at the time with my little sister. My dad reassured me she was okay, and she was just a little bruised. When we got to the scene my mom was standing off to the side waiting for me and my dad. I remember seeing the wrinkled hood of my mom’s car and wondering how all that could have happened.

When I woke up the next morning, I could see how much bruising my mom had on her body. It really scared me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to my little sister. When my mom had my sister, I was so happy that she was healthy and unharmed. It made me realize how dangerous driving could be and how if anything worse happened, my sister wouldn’t be here today. At an early age, I learned the importance of how unsafe driving can impact anyone’s life, including my own, and I am so grateful that my mom and sister are alive with me today.

Driving is a privilege and should be treated as such by every person with a license or permit. Driving education is important as thousands of lives are lost because of fatal car accidents that could have been prevented through better learning and more precautions. Ensuring that more people are better educated about road laws, hazards, and safer driving practices will decrease the number of injuries and deaths that happen each year.

The main cause of death in teenagers today is car crashes. This is because of a lack of experience, but this could be fixed by more education too. Teenage drivers are more at risk of crashing due to this and many get their licenses with severe skill deficits as most learn solely from their parents who are not trained driving instructors and who could teach them bad habits. But, if more drivers take the time to learn through resources provided to them online, this will reduce the risk that teenagers and other drivers take any time they step into a vehicle. When drivers are more knowledgeable about the dangers that can happen on the road, they are less likely to make risky decisions such as speeding, using a phone, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which could be dangerous and result in the loss of their lives and other people’s lives.

Even though better education about driver safety would be the most effective approach, many people do not know how to access these important resources to help them and will not bother to try. This is why stricter traffic laws would help to decrease reckless driving and prevent an abundance of crashes. Improving our roads would also help as it could reduce crashes due to potholes or tight lanes. Creating safer cars that have enhanced safety technologies such as lane departure warnings would reduce the risk of crashes. Properly checking cars is also another factor. Taking the time to check your vehicle’s brakes, tires, and lights could reduce your risk of a fatal crash immensely. Encouraging more people to take defensive driving courses would improve driver’s skills and also reduce the risk of themselves and others getting injured while operating a vehicle. Taking courses such as this encourages safer habits that protect not just you or other drivers but also passengers that you will be responsible for when they are riding with you. Paying better attention to road signs and knowing their meanings will also help reduce the risk of crashing due to unknowledgeable actions.

There are many ways that I can personally take steps to ensure my safety and other drivers around me. Preparing to leave at earlier times to prevent myself from speeding and endangering other drivers around me is a great way. Many people speed to their destination, especially if it is an appointment of some sort. Allotting yourself time to prepare and get ready for your meeting will ensure a safe trip. Leaving my phone out of reach so that it does not end up becoming a distraction will also greatly reduce my chances of being involved in a crash. So many people use their phone while they drive which will reduce their reaction time greatly. It also forces them to take a hand off the steering wheel and eyes off the road, which is also incredibly dangerous. Making sure that your phone is not even reachable is a good way to start practicing safe driving habits.

As I continue to navigate my new responsibilities and privilege of being a driver, I need to make sure that I am extra cautious and create good, safe habits for myself, as I do not have the experience to allow myself to relax fully behind the wheel. If every driver was alert, aware of their surroundings, and knowledgeable about road laws driving would be much safer for everyone involved.