Detrimental Driving

Jenna
M Hartman

Detrimental
Driving

At
16 years old, a young adult hears the words “You passed” after
their driving test. They have done it. They are finally on the road
to becoming an adult, to growing up, to becoming independent. It is
not necessary to drive carefully in front of the driving instructor
or mommy and daddy. They are free. What happens then? The excitement
and newness of having a license blinds young drivers from the risks
involved in driving. Drivers ed is important for learning
the rules of the road and how to do so safely. During the driver’s
education course students learn about the risks involved but don’t
see the result of them. It would be beneficial for young drivers to
see the result of accidents first hand. To see the mangled cars would
affect the young driver’s perspective that they are invincible in a
car. This would instill fear into drivers and cause them to drive
more carefully. The point of drivers ed is to teach the
power of the vehicle, the importance of driving safely and following
the rules of the road.

In
addition to showing the detrimental effects of careless driving to
students it also should be shown to the public along with each
vehicle’s stories. Fear is an emotion that influences people in
many ways. In this case, fear is a tool that can save lives. Fear
makes us cautious and more aware. Before I became a driver, I was
shown vehicles involved in gruesome accidents. In each one someone
had died. It opened my eyes and showed me that life was finite and
while on the road I had to protect myself by driving safely. I think
it would do the same for others.

While
I am a fairly new driver, I have not been in an accident; however I
have seen the result family member in a horrendous accident. She was
hit by a drunk driver on her way home from work. She spun out of
control and both cars went off the road and caught on fire.
Thankfully she survived but had major brain damage and suffered from
injuries and trauma that took her years to heal from. The drunk
driver did not make it. Stories like these remind me personally to
drive safer not only for myself but for others on the road.

Steps
I take to be a better driver involve stationing my phone far away so
it is not a distraction and reminding myself of accidents of the past
that I do not want to recreate. Today actions have been taken to
remind drivers to not text and drive, drink and drive, buckle up when
you drive but they are passive and don’t get to most of the people
on the road. I think it would be beneficial for drivers to become
aware of the result of accidents first hand like I had experienced
observing the mangled cars. It would open the eyes of many and
perhaps influence them to take steps to becoming a safer driver.

Every
time someone gets behind the wheel whether it is a teenager or an
adult, their lives are at risk. Most are unaware of the total
consequence of reckless driving because they haven’t experienced it
themselves. Making the public aware of their actions can help improve
driving and stop detrimental driving.