The Responsibility Beyond the Driver

As soon as you get into a car, whether that be in the middle backseat or driving behind the wheel, you are accepting an immense responsibility to act in the best interest of everyone on the road with you. There is, of course, a strong responsibility held by the driver, as their hands, feet, and mind must be reactive and precise enough to keep their car moving forward and without causing any interference to other cars. There is also a responsibility held by the passengers in the car to keep a safe environment without any distractions for the driver, which is perhaps less discussed. The simplest thing like taking your eyes off the road for two seconds to look at your passenger and make eye contact during a conversation could be the two seconds that the wheels slide into another lane of oncoming traffic and put all lives in those cars in danger. When driving in a car, you should not only expect the best of yourself but also expect every other driver on the road to uphold the standards on the road that ensures safety for everyone else. You are trusting every single individual that gets behind the wheel to know what it takes to drive safely and precisely according to the standard rules of the road, and as a driver, you should be able to adapt to the rules as they vary by county, area, construction zones, different states, etc.

An incredibly exciting milestone in a teenager’s life is being eligible to get their drivers’ license. Many go through the process of getting their permit, practicing driving with adults during weekends and evenings after work, and knowing all that will be asked and expected of them on the day of their official driver’s test. Having a license, an official government proof of identification, and the freedom of being able to transport yourself to wherever you need to be is such a privilege, one that many spend years eagerly looking forward to. That excitement is one that should never be dimmed or replaced, but the severity and responsibility that comes with driving should be just as emphasized. It is unfortunate that many do not understand this severity until they see it closely/firsthand or experience a traumatic road event themselves.

One of the largest and most glaring issues that teen drivers face today is the phone. It is so easily accessible and holds so much information in such a small capacity, and many young drivers ensure they always have one hand on the wheel and one hand holding their phone. Whether it is to change a song, answer one single text, or go on to social media, a driver taking their eyes off the road for even two seconds puts all lives on the road at risk. There should be no distractions for a driver, especially one that is so easily accessible, that impairs the driver’s ability to fully operate their vehicle. Though there are laws, billboards, and signs in place that constantly reinforce the illegality and irresponsibility using one’s phone while driving is, people still do it because it is so small and can be easily hidden from any outside views. There may be three hundred rides that one uses their phone without consequence or danger, but all it takes is two seconds for someone’s whole life to change and for them to completely lose control.

Being in the car with my other friends, especially as we all turned 16 and got our licenses with the freedom of driving ourselves to and from places, I have experienced this exact issue. As they got older and felt more confident in their driving abilities, my friends would pick up their phone to text, make calls, and communicate with others on social media. Because I was also a young and irresponsible teenager, I never outwardly said anything when my friends would use their phone and drive; it is their vehicle and their job as a driver, and my role is simply to be the passenger. Once, when driving from Murfreesboro to Nashville with friends, though, my friend had her phone in her hand while merging onto another interstate highway. She looked down at her phone for a split second, simply to look at who was texting her, and by the time she looked back up, a semi truck was trying to merge into our lane with no room in front of us. My friend had to slam on her brakes, honk her horn, and swerve into the neighboring lane with the hope that there were no other drivers coming through. The silent fear that emanated through the car after that experience was palpable, and one that I never wish to live through again, as we all experienced how quickly and easily we could put ourselves in danger when driving on the road. There is never anything important enough on one’s phone to attend to while driving, and if there is then you should not be driving.

A stronger enforcement of the phone not being anywhere in the driver’s vicinity is one way that safer driving among young people can be promoted. Whether this occurs at a legal level with police becoming stricter in pulling over drivers using their phone while driving or at a technological level with smartphones restricting access if it detects the user is currently behind the wheel, there should be stricter laws and regulations set to ensure that phones are not used at all when an individual is driving.

I also think there should also be a stronger sense of responsibility on teens, even as passengers. We often expect highly of ourselves when we are the driver, but as passengers, some tend to keep their opinions/suggestions to themselves because they do not want to “back-seat drive” or be too much of a nuisance. We also are getting in someone else’s car, and as they are the driver, we are expected to allow them to operate their vehicle in the way they see fit. Although I agree with the necessity of allowing drivers to operate how they want, I think that if a passenger feels unsafe or sees their driver not following the road laws, they should absolutely feel free and even responsible to.