Arrive
Alive

Getting
your driver’s license as a teenager can be a very exciting time and
is a major step towards independence. This privilege, however,
represents a new profound responsibility for teens as they now must
be accountable for themselves, their passengers, and watch out for
anyone they happen to share the road with. Drivers ed plays a
vital role in informing teens from an early stage of safe driving
practices and the rules of the road. To reduce the number of deaths
on the road, drivers must stay focused and put away all distractions
while reminding others to do the same.

Driver
education is often the first step teens take on the path to becoming
licensed drivers. It is of absolute importance for teens to obtain a
comprehensive knowledge of road laws and how to safely operate a
vehicle before ever getting behind the wheel. Once drivers ed is
completed, new drivers can then apply this knowledge when they begin
to practice out on the road with a parent or driving instructor.
Having skilled teen drivers is necessary as young drivers are
typically the most prone to being involved in fatal accidents and
drivers ed can help prevent this. With good drivers ed, we can
see safe teen drivers grow up to be safe adult drivers.
To
reduce the number of deaths related to driving, we must all stay
focused behind the wheel and put away all distractions. Many teens
and adults today struggle with being “glued” to their phone at
school or work, but this behavior becomes deadly when it is mixed
with driving. Being bored or stopped at a red light is never an
excuse to be using your phone while driving. Distracted driving along
with drunk driving should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
If a person cannot handle having their phone in their pocket or a cup
holder, they should leave it in the glove compartment. To increase
the safety on roads we must also remain calm behind the wheel and not
drive aggressively as speed kills. Driving is an absolute privilege
that can and should be taken away if a driver cannot handle the
responsibility.

I
am fortunate in that I have avoided getting into a car with peers or
family members who drive irresponsibly. However, I am sad to say that
I have witnessed classmates driving recklessly on social media. Even
when the videos do not showcase speeding or running red lights, I am
still terrified when my peers post videos on Snapchat while they are
behind the wheel. There is no reason to end your life or the lives of
others just to show your friends how pretty the sunset looks out your
window. In situations like this, it is important to speak up and
remind your friends that distracted driving and other forms of
reckless behavior are not okay. By speaking out, you are doing
yourself, your friends, and any other people out on the road a favor
by keeping them safe.
Getting
your driver’s license as a teenager can be a very exciting time and
represents a major step towards independence. However, this privilege
comes with a new set of responsibilities for teenagers as they now
must be accountable for themselves, their passengers, and watch out
for anyone they happen to share the road with. Drivers ed plays
a vital role in informing teens from an early stage of safe driving
practices and the rules of the road. To reduce the number of deaths
on the road, drivers must stay focused and put away all distractions
while reminding others to do the same. Every individual also has a
duty to speak up when they witness others driving in an unsafe
manner.