Safe Driving for Teens

Safe driving means operating a vehicle with minimal risks to yourself, passengers, pedestrians, and other vehicles on the road. It means following road signs, traffic signals, using a seatbelt, never driving under the influence, maintaining a safe distance, checking mirrors, avoiding distractions, and keeping your car in good condition. There are several factors that allow people to drive safely, but overall, safe driving is more than just following the rules, it’s a commitment to protecting lives, an immense responsibility and respect for everyone each time you start the engine. Teen drivers have the highest rates of fatalities and are viewed as inexperienced. Driver’s education provides all of these details while giving the student the opportunity to experience driving safely alongside an instructor. Reading about driving is informative before getting on the road, but the real experience begins as soon as you actually enter the vehicle. With more driver education classes within schools, teenagers can prepare themselves to engage in safe driving measures.

No matter what age you get your license, sitting in the car alone for the first time is a surreal feeling. You feel accomplished, free, and unstoppable. As you lower into the seat and click the seatbelt into its buckle, check your mirrors, and adjust everything to your liking, it feels nothing short of a dream. Then, you press down on the brake as you reach up to start the vehicle. Your hand firmly grips the wheel. The engine awakens from its idle position. The dashboard lights up, the radio begins to sing, and the car is ready to drive. This is exactly how my experience went the first time I entered a vehicle by myself. I thought of every little action I was doing. It felt as if I was moving in slow motion. I wanted this moment to last a lifetime. The decisions a driver makes from the moment they get into their car can determine their lives as well as the lives of others.

Now imagine this same situation of entering a vehicle, but under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A disoriented teen might forget to put on their seatbelt or put their phone away, but the car awakes with the same urgency. The woozy driver stumbles behind the wheel, making a reckless decision that could change their life forever. They fail to consider the consequences, only yearning to make it to their next destination. Another 17 year old has just started their lunch break, 30 minutes is counting down fast. They speed to the nearest drive thru, nearly getting into a crash. Only to pick up their favorite french fries and distractedly eat them while speeding back to work. Across the street, a new driver, only 18 years old and just graduated from high school. Even though they just got their license, they have five of their friends piled in their four seater. The music is on full blast and their seatbelts are unbuckled, trying to change the radio station or rolling down the windows to take a selfie. The driver isn’t only worried about getting caught, but isn’t focused on the road due to the distractions behind them. Campaigns like “5 to Drive” promote healthy habits in teenage drivers. By saying no to drugs and alcohol, teens can avoid hurting themselves or other people behind the wheel. Calling an uber or a parent in a time of need is always better than taking the risk. Following rules like limiting the amount of passengers and waiting the 6-months to drive them around could potentially save lives. Always buckling up, keeping the music at a volume where you can hear other vehicles, and waiting to use your device are all great habits.

Whether the driver is impaired or distracted, each poses the same risk of injury. Taking your time and focusing on the road has saved thousands of lives from injury or death in the event of a car crash. There are countless outcomes of failing to follow road safety, including jail time, injury, or death. Each time you enter the car, think of the excitement you once felt when you did it for the very first time. This euphoric experience can quickly turn tragic because of selfish decisions. The word “sonder” means, “the profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own, which they are constantly living despite one’s personal lack of awareness of it.” When operating a vehicle, it’s easy to tune everyone out and just imagine the people around you as “other cars”, but in reality, the road isn’t just ours, and we have to remain selfless. Our roadways are shared by countless other lives just as important as our own. The 2,000 pound piece of machinery that you are in control of is not just a car, but also a deadly weapon. Prioritizing long term safety over short-term convenience can protect the lives of yourself and other people.

Everyone has somewhere to go and they want to get there safely. Waking up a little bit earlier to start your car can prevent tired driving, which is just as bad as being under the influence. It can also give you time to eat, put your phone on drive mode, and start a playlist so there is no reason to touch the radio. These simple decisions can save a life, potentially your own. It is easy to become distracted but limiting distractions takes the same amount of effort. Safe driving is not just following rules, but making thoughtful decisions to protect yourself and those around you. A vehicle is a tool, a way to connect, a gift; but it is still a weapon at the end of the day.