Name: Lydia Ragainis
From: Madison, WI
Votes: 0
Many
teenagers look forward to learning to drive. It’s the opportunity
to travel and escape the everyday. A tool to help forward your
horizons. But, drivers ed is not just about learning to turn
left and merge right. It teaches us that freedom comes with
responsibility. This awareness of our power as drivers can help
reduce the number of driving related casualties.
Drunk
driving is an epidemic that results in over 10,000 deaths a year. We
continue to educate and take baby steps towards safer roads, but I
believe that baby steps will get us nowhere. Alcohol impairs your
reasoning skills and even the most educated people can make a mistake
that they will regret for the rest of their life. I propose that
breathalyzers become a normal aspect of every vehicle. Any driver
should be required to blow below a 0.08 before removing the vehicle
from park, regardless of past offenses.
I
have been part of a car accident. While leaving a parking lot in my
friend’s car, another vehicle backed into the side of our vehicle.
Luckily, no one was injured and it was only a very minor accident.
That being said, the driver of the other driver should have been more
careful and checked all of their blindspots before proceeding.
As
a driver, I can always become better and safer on the road. Whether
this be turning my phone on “Do Not Disturb” or taking my time
and not searching for the fastest route to my destination. I can also
help other drivers by sharing stories and continuing to educate
drivers past their one time high school classes. People often forget
the power we hold behind the wheel and it’s time to make sure this
doesn’t end a life.
