Lead by Example

Getting
your driver’s license feels like tasting freedom for the first time
to most young teenagers. It is not just a plastic, government-issued
card that says “yeah they passed the driving test”, it is a point
of pride and undeniable excitement. But often, teenagers are not
focused on how dangerous that big chunk of metal can be, and it is
easy to dehumanize other cars while we are driving.

Every
teen goes through some form of Drivers ed and driving course
before they are allowed to get their license, which is necessary, and
it is easy to remember the rules and be vigilant while it is fresh in
your mind, but the more we drive and as our comfort level increases,
it can be even easier to be lackadaisical about your safety while
driving. Required re-testing as we age and drive more I think is a
very beneficial precaution, as it allows long-time drivers to get a
bit of a refresher. Sometimes, even the basics can be forgotten.

The
number of car-related deaths that occur each year in the US is
astounding. And unfortunately, many of these are the result of
drivers being distracted by their phones while on the road. With easy
accessibility to social media, it is so easy for young adults to be
tempted to look down and check who just liked their latest picture or
messaged them to hang out that evening. This danger can be easily
reduced however, if safe driving apps were more widely used. There
are many available such as Cellcontrol, LifeSaver, and DriveSafe Mode
that can sense when you are driving and effectively lock you out of
your phone. Utilizing apps such as these can take away the temptation
to text while behind the wheel, and save lives.

I
am lucky because I have never been directly involved in a serious car
accident. However, I have witnessed my own mother be hit head-on by a
distracted high school driver, and I am lucky I was not in the car.
My mother was not seriously injured, coming out with a couple of
surface scrapes and an aching neck. But seeing my mother’s car be
totaled and being afraid at that moment that I had lost her, is an
image and a feeling I will never forget.

Every
single time I drive, I remind myself that the other cars on the road
are not all self-driving. Every car has a person with a life, a
story, and loved ones, and essentially I am the same as them. I try
to drive by the golden rule, treat others how you wish to be treated.
I try to lead by example when I am behind the wheel, especially with
younger people, so that they may watch and learn, and hopefully be
safe drivers in the future. In this case, prevention is key, not all
situations are very forgiving in regards to learning from your
mistakes because behind the wheel, any mistake can be a deadly one.