Name: Alexis Griffin
From: Storrs, CT
Votes: 0
Driving
is a rite of passage. At the age of sixteen, you become eligible for
your permit. For many, this is a huge milestone in life. You are
declared competent enough to get behind the wheel, even if it still
is under supervision.
Driving
is a bonding experience. After you receive your permit, you are now
expected to be taught how to drive. Most people go on driving hours
with an instructor, but everyone
has someone close to them take them on their own driving hours of
sorts. For me, this was my mom screaming in fear in the passenger’s
seat grabbing into the overhead handle. It started off rough at
first, but then she learned I was capable of being able to drive and
her trust for me grew.
Driving
is learning. Before getting a license, at least in the state of
Massachusetts, you need to obtain your permit, attend driver’s
education classes, and log a certain number of driving hours. Both
the hands-on lessons and the mental ones round out a well-trained
driver. In class, we learn the statistics and how not to become a
part of the negative ones. While learning on the road, we experience
the nerves of driving, and therefore see what to lookout for, as to
not get in an accident. We become more observational than ever
before.
Driving
is a responsibility. Not all of us are ready for this responsibility.
In 2016, there was a car accident that took my hometown by storm.
Four teenagers were in the car driving to their friend’s house. The
driver was not taking his responsibility seriously, and veered off
the road, hitting a telephone pole. With this action, he killed one
of the passengers in his car, Kate McCarthy, a 15-year-old girl. She
was an extremely kind girl, very well-liked by everyone she met. His
driving took her away from her friends and his family, and ruined his
life as well. He was charged with manslaughter and assault and
battery with a deadly weapon.
A
car is a weapon. An average car weighs about 3,500 pounds and can
reach up to over 100 mph. Drivers need to recognize the damage a car
can do and make sure they do everything they can to prevent this
damage. Most importantly, they need to train and educate themselves.
No one should be on the road where they can harm others or themselves
until they are fully prepared. This includes taking drivers ed
classes, and practicing at low speeds in secluded areas. Drivers
should also always devote their entire attention to the road. They
should never be under the influence, texting while driving, or doing
anything that takes their focus off of driving.
Do
not let the line in your obituary read “driving is what killed
them”.
