Name: Katherine Fincke
From: Henrico, Virginia
Votes: 0
In
the year of 2013, an average of 8 teenagers would die in a car
accident daily. These were real teenagers-who had real friends, real
families, and real dreams for their futures. A large number of these
car accidents can be attributed to the teen’s decisions to take
their attention away from the road. Today, the number of driving
related deaths has only risen with the importance and advancement of
our technology. In a time in which the temptation of a ping from our
phones can outway the risk of taking our eyes off the road, it is far
too easy to put ourselves into danger. Distraction has become such a
normalized element in teenage driving that we rarely consider the
associated risk. We no longer acknowledge that we can be the direct
cause of costly damage, injury, death, and grief. As the next
generation of drivers, we need to improve our recognition of the
true costs of distraction on our roads.
The
education of new drivers is one of the crucial first steps in
reducing driving related deaths. New drivers need to be introduced to
not only the rules of the road, but the statistics. It is important
for students to be taught techniques to prevent unsafe driving.
Drivers Ed classes provides students with the knowledge of
driving, but we, as new drivers, need to take our own steps to ensure
that we will practice the safe driving techniques that have been
taught to us.
The
reduction of driving related deaths will start with recognition of
the issue. Many teenagers rely on their own driving to get to school
and work. As driving becomes a part of their routine, their routine
becomes a part of driving. Friends, eating, texting, and even
intoxication will become a part of their driving routine. For
convenience, many teens have taken up these dangerous habits. As
teenagers, we need to pledge to make more conscious and safe
decisions, and urge our peers to do the same. Adults can reinforce
this as well, talking to children about how important attentive
driving is and enforcing consequences if they cannot uphold safe
driving.
Luckily,
I have never been involved in a car accident, but I have had some
close calls. Unfortunately, I have observed friends and family taking
their eyes off the road to check texts or change songs. I have seen
them ignore speed limits or traffic signs because, “There’s no
one else on the road” or “I don’t want to be late”. It’s
unsettling when someone that I care about is willing to put
themselves in danger for temporary convenience.
In
conclusion, creating a new generation of more mindful drivers will
begin with me and my peers pledging to choose our own safety over
momentary distractions. Recognizing the increasing numbers of driving
related deaths among teens and promising that we will not become
another statistic will create a future of conscientious drivers, but
only if we take the responsibility to change upon ourselves.
