Late Arrival

There
are three moments that every teenage never forgets. Those moments are
ones that shape their lives forever and will be spoken about to their
grandchildren for the “hundredth time” when they are older. And
what are those moments? Prom, Graduation and getting a driver’s
license. Though experiencing those times may be exhilarating, they
come with much preparation. Leading up to prom a person plans their
outfit and they spend 4 years preparing for graduation. However, when
preparing to get a driver’s license many people forget the most
important step. Drivers ed.

According
to driving-tests.org, many teenagers won’t get to experience prom
or graduation because “drivers between the ages of 16-19 are 3
times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash.” (1)
Additionally, teenagers between the ages of 15-20 without drivers
education are “responsible for approximately 91% of those teen
driver crashes.” (1) Drivers ed is an important step for
every driver to take before getting their license because it
increases their awareness of the roads they’re embarking on for the
first time as a new driver.

To
reduce the startling statistics, mentioned in the above paragraph,
there must be steps taken to develop smarter drivers. While driver
education is one important step, there are also many others that can
be taken. While children are younger, they often follow the lead of
their parents. Parents should practice smart driving techniques, so
their children ultimately follow their example when the time comes
for them to drive. In today’s technology driven world, people
should also advocate for stricter laws to be in place that are aimed
at preventing distracted drivers.

Personally,
I have seen how those steps can create change. As a Georgia resident,
the recent “Hands-Free Law” put into place in my state has
reduced the number of distracted drivers. For example, when I am
riding with my parents, I see how they are no longer distracted by
their phones. This in turn, is preparing me to become a safer driver.
Through stricter driving laws and my parents lead, I have not had to
see my family members or friends drive irresponsibly.

As
I prepare to embark on the open road for the first time, I will take
steps to become a better and safer driver. One step I will take, is
becoming involved in a drivers ed class to learn proper
driving techniques. To help others become safer on the road, I will
lead by example and demonstrate safe driving techniques.

References:

1.

Driving-Tests.org.
“2019 Driving Statistics: The Ultimate List of Driving Stats.”
2019 Driving Statistics: The Ultimate List of Driving Stats,
driving-tests.org/driving-statistics/.