Behind the Wheel

Kambry Burns

Behind the Wheel

The number of deaths caused by irresponsible driving could be limited if people would put their phones away when driving, and if they were more educated. Driver education courses are only required in twenty-three states out of the fifty in the United States of America. Six states require shorter courses, and in the thirty-five other states, teens can obtain an unrestricted driver license before the age of eighteen without taking a driver education course. I live in New Mexico, and my state is one of the twenty-three that requires a driver education course. Taking this course helped me personally because I live in a rural town that has warm temperatures the majority of the time. In the course, I learned rules that applied to urban areas that I do not drive in much. The course prepared me for driving in cities, and I was able to handle the intersections better than I would have without a driver education. I also learned how to handle roads that are icy or have another sort of precipitation on them. People who do not get this education are most likely not as prepared as a driver who had taken a course. These courses need to be mandatory in all states. Taking a driver education course can reduce the number of deaths because they will be better prepared and will feel more confident behind the wheel.

I believe that one of the biggest steps that can be taken to reduce the number of deaths related to driving is to avoid the use of cell phones while driving. This is a really big distraction that has seemed to become normal. A lot of people believe that they can multitask, but driving is not the time to test that. Our full attention should be on the road and our outside surroundings. I have been in the vehicle when someone was driving irresponsibly, and it was very scary. I did not feel safe, and I had no control of the vehicle. The person was on their phone at night, so they were swerving all across the road. I realized that I never wanted to make anyone feel the way I felt that night, which is why I put my phone away until I arrive at my destination. A couple steps that I can take to be a better and safer driver is to not fall to peer pressure while driving. Being a teen, peer pressure is common. Whether it be friends trying to get me to drink an alcoholic beverage, or play music at a distracting volume, I need to be able to turn them down and be responsible. To help others be safer drivers, I can avoid texting them when I know they are driving, and back them up when they turn down peer pressure. I believe that leading by example is the best thing I can do for my friends, passengers, and family that are in the vehicle with me.