“God, people can be such terrible drivers,” my parents would mutter. A car would cut us off or try to speed through a yellow light at the last second, and we’d sigh together, pursing our lips at yet another example of someone who should’ve been more careful on the road. From an early age, it was ingrained into me that I would never be like that. I was always a careful person—the type who triple-checks my math exams and reads the fine print. So with driving, I knew that I’d be careful: I wasn’t going to speed. I’d never text behind the wheel. And I wouldn’t even dream of driving under the influence. All those horrifying tales that I had seen on the news, combined with my already strong understanding of just how easily you could hurt someone while driving made me completely certain that I would always respect school zones, follow the speed limits, and keep my cool when others lost theirs. Those obviously dangerous behaviours—the kinds shown in driver’s ed videos or PSA campaigns—weren’t going to be a problem for me.

But over time, through stories I’ve heard and near-misses I’ve witnessed, I’ve slowly realized that teen driver safety isn’t just about avoiding the most glaringly reckless of behaviors, and distracted driving can mean more than those worst-case scenarios. Things that seem harmless, from turning to answer a friend’s question to tapping on your phone to skip a song, are still distractions. And sometimes stress over something irritating on the road can take over your focus, no matter how much you try to mentally prepare and stay calm.

That’s what makes teen driver safety such an important issue. It’s easy for teenagers like me to assume that because we aren’t making those big, obvious mistakes, we’re driving safely. However, in reality, the most common causes of teen car accidents are far more subtle—even though we might think, “It’ll only take a second; it won’t hurt,” those small moments of inattention could have major consequences, and it’s simply not worth risking lives over. In addition, little things can build up fast and become a habit, potentially making one more prone to risk-taking in the future, and even the best intentions can’t make up for a momentary lapse in focus. Many of my friends are currently taking driving lessons or have already gotten their license—one of my closest friends is taking her driving test this very week!—and I’ve already heard a story of a friend nearly missing a stop sign because they were eating chips. Something so simple shouldn’t be so harmful, but it can be; thankfully, close calls such as those didn’t culminate in any accidents, but they were enough to shake me. Moreover, another thing I’ve noticed is that many teenagers assume everyone else on the road will follow rules as strictly as they do, so they only need to watch out for their own mistakes, but that’s a risky assumption. The reality is, you can’t always count on others to be careful as well, and with the lack of experience we have, it’s especially dangerous. For teen drivers, being fully present for every single second is especially important, even when nothing seems to be happening—it only takes a moment for something to go wrong.

Proper driver’s education plays a key role in helping teens recognize the hidden challenges on the road, and is essential for keeping everyone safe. Lessons shouldn’t simply teach teenagers the mechanics of driving, but should also build awareness and decision-making skills. Good programs don’t stop at “Don’t drink and drive” or a questionnaire about risky behavior. They address how to handle distractions and peer pressure, and I believe that driver’s education could be even more impactful by exposing teens to the actual consequences of accidents, through tours of emergency rooms or intensive care units, or even