Driving Toward Responsibility: The Call for Safer Teen Roads

Teen driver safety is a community problem with far-reaching consequences that go far beyond the driver him/herself. Car accidents are still one of the top reasons for teen deaths in America despite all the safety measures, and still happen too often today due to inexperience, distraction, and peer pressure. The crash not only kills the young driver but also affects the community and family as well. Teen driver safety must be taken more seriously, and education—particularly formal driver’s education—is still the key to lowered risks on the road.

Although I haven’t yet obtained a license, I hope to enroll in driver’s ed and obtain it sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, I’ve learned a trick or two observing my peers, most of whom are already driving. What I’ve learned is that driving must be done with serious consideration, not to mention at our age. Some of my peers drive their vehicles to bring siblings to class or run chores for their families. They’re not reckless or trying to make a big deal of it. They’re careful, put their phone in silent mode, and proceed from point A to point B with no issues. Observing it has taught me that driving isn’t a perk but a responsibility that one must never get too arrogant about.

Driving classes go a long way in imparting to teenagers the attitude and skills to drive safely. While informally driving with parents or older siblings is most important for teenagers, formal classes assist in imparting precision and discipline. More importantly, formal classes assist in allowing teenagers to learn to think like drivers and not just learn driving. Teenagers are taught in real-world situations and are compelled to understand the actual consequences of unsafe practices such as texting and driving, speeding, or defiance of road rules. Such classes compel teenagers to understand that a car is not just a car—it’s a serious machine that, if used improperly, will inflict irreparable harm.

Perhaps the biggest issue teen drivers have to deal with is distraction. Glancing at a text, switching music, or chatting to friends, it’s all too simple to get distracted. One moment of distraction can and does lead to a wreck. Peer pressure also comes into play—some teens are pressured to “show off” driving, either in speed or skipping safety protocols with friends in the group. And forget even bringing up inexperience. Even after they pass their driver’s test, they’ll stall in a real emergency situation or hazardous road conditions such as rain showers or heavy traffic. These are compounded if a teen is ill-taught or doesn’t take driving seriously. One experience in particular that was lodged in my mind was with my classmate after she obtained her driver’s license. They were driving her little brother to class and texting simultaneously. They thought it would only take a second, so they looked down to glance at their phone. That one second of distraction was all it took to side-sweep a stopped vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the accident rattled her. Her vehicle was essentially ruined, and her faith in driving was shaken, too. She went on to explain to us more about how she would’ve wanted to wait to look at her phone. Her experience opened many of us up to just how quickly accidents can occur and just how big of a role attention plays. It also made me realize that once I’m behind the wheel, responsibility in the driver’s seat always comes first—period.

There are a few things that teens, schools, and communities can work together to make driving safer. Teens can begin with what they can control, which is their driving behaviors. Turning on the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature, staying away from distractions, checking the sign saying the speed limit, and never driving at all while intoxicated are all life-saving choices. Even saying something when you notice another driver driving irresponsibly saves lives. It is not easy, but it may prevent everyone from crashing.

Schools are under the responsibility to continue to offer quality courses in driver’s ed and make these accessible to everyone. They can include not only in-class lessons, but also guest speakers such as police officers in their community or first responders, who will present actual situations and figures. Awareness programs among peers, in the same way that schools can utilize posters, videos, or events, are also possible.

The communities and parents also share some responsibility. Parents also need to practice driving carefully and establish clear guidelines. State and local governments can enact and pass safety legislation for inexperienced drivers, such as bans against driving at night or restrictions against the number of passengers allowed. Communities can organize safety seminars, sponsor free driving courses, or make safety vows for teenagers. Driving will usually be teens’ first major responsibility in life, symbolizing freedom, maturity, and responsibility. But with driving comes inherent risk that needs to be taken seriously. With me prepared to be a licensed driver, I am aware that safety will come first to my mind. I’d want to make good decisions, not just for myself, but for others as well, like passengers, other drivers, and all others I am with. With learning, good peers, and good community influence, I feel we can collectively make roads safer, teen driver by teen driver.